Theosophical University Press Online Edition

Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy

By G. de Purucker
First Edition copyright 1932; Second Revised Edition copyright 1979 by Theosophical
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6ontents
Fore.ord
,RT 4&E
6hapter 1 # The Three F0nda-ental ropositions# The Sel/5 7an8s $n-ost 9in2 .ith the
Un0tterable# The Esoteric hilosophy5 Ta0ght in all the ,ncient Religions# !41K"
6hapter 2 # :here is Reality; Tr0th can be <no.n# 7an8s 6o-posite &at0re according to
=i//erent Syste-s5 Three/old1 Fo0r/old1 Five/old1 or Seven/old# !25K"
6hapter 3 # The =octrine o/ 7aya; 4b>ective $dealis- the %asis o/ 7orals5 Rooted in the
Spirit0al Unity ? the =ivinity ? o/ the ,ll# The Sel/ and the @Selves#@ !24K"
6hapter * # Fro- ri-ordial oint to Universe and 7an# Ao. does 7ani/estation ,rise;
7anvantara and ralaya# !28K"
6hapter ( # The Esoteric Teachings and the &eb0lar Theory# Bods behind the <os-os5 :hy
&at0re is $-per/ect# !30K"
6hapter C # The =a.n o/ 7ani/estation5 9aya'centers# , 6onscio0s Universe ? Spirit0ally
0rposive# Stoic =octrine o/ the $nter-ingling o/ ,ll %eings5 @9a.s o/ &at0re#@ hilosophical
olytheis- and the =octrine o/ Aierarchies# !32K"
6hapter 7 # Aierarchies5 4ne o/ the 9ost <eys o/ the Esoteric hilosophy# The ythagorean
Sacred Tetra2tys# The 9adder o/ 9i/e5 The 9egend o/ ad-apani# !35K"
6hapter + # Traces o/ the Esoteric hilosophy in Benesis# !34K"
6hapter 9 # 40tline o/ Esoteric 6os-ogony# Blobes1 Ro0nds and Races5 6os-ic Ti-e
eriods# !33K"
6hapter 1) # The =octrine o/ S.abhava ? Sel/'beco-ing ? 6haracteristic $ndivid0ality# 7an1
Sel/'evolved1 his o.n 6reator#Monadologie o/ 9eibniD contrasted .ith Teachings o/ the
Esoteric hilosophy# !34K"
6hapter 11 # The 6os-ic ilgri-age# Fro- Unsel/'conscio0s Bod'spar2 to F0lly Sel/'
conscio0s Bod# !33K"
6hapter 12 # sychology5 ,ccording to the Esoteric hilosophy# $--ortality is 6onditional5
the 9oss o/ the So0l# !20K"
6hapter 13 # The rocess o/ Evol0tion# Sel/1 Ego1 and So0l5 @$ ,-@ and @$ a- $#@ !27K"
6hapter 1* # @Aeavens@ and @Aells@5 Teachings o/ the Esoteric hilosophy and o/ the
E3oteric Religions# !27K"
6hapter 1( # The Evol0tion o/ the @,bsol0te#@ BeneraliDed lan o/ Evol0tion on all lanes#
Seven <eys to :isdo- and F0t0re $nitiations# !33K"
6hapter 1C # ,t-a'vidya5 Ao. the 4ne %eco-es the 7any# @9ost So0ls@ and @So0lless
%eings#@ 7an1 a 6o-posite %eing5 &o ,biding rinciple in 7an# !51K"
6hapter 17 # The Silent :atcher# !37K"
6hapter 1+ # The Spirit0al'sychological Aierarchy o/ ,depts# The :ondro0s %eing1 the
%0ddhas1 &ir-ana2ayas1 =hyan'chohans# !59K"
6hapter 19 # The Seven Ee.els and the Seven Stages o/ $nitiation# !43K"
6hapter 2) # The Aigher ,spect o/ A0-an sychology# $nitiation and the 7ysteries5
,vataras1 %0ddhas1 and %odhisattvas# Their Relation to Blobes1 Ro0nds1 and Races# !37K"
6hapter 21 # $nitiations and the ,ncient 7ysteries# Root'races and Their S0bdivisions# Blobe
Ro0nds# lanetary Ro0nds# Solar <alpas5 Ao. 6alc0lated# Racial 6ataclys-s# !28K"
6hapter 22 # The Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# The $ncarnation o/ the 7anasap0tras# !49K"
6hapter 23 # The S0n and the lanets# Their Role in the Evol0tionary =ra-a# !32K"
,RT T:4
6hapter 2* # The Ten Stages o/ %eing according to the Syrian Syste-# Esoteric 7ethod o/
Teaching5 arado3es1 $nt0ition# !25K"
6hapter 2( # The 7ysteries o/ Septenary &at0re# 6orrespondences5 Blobes1 Ele-ents1
A0-an rinciples# The Seven Sacred lanets o/ the ,ncients# Racial Ti-e eriods and
6atastrophes# !26K"
6hapter 2C # The 7icrocos-1 a 7irror o/ the 7acrocos-# Ele-ents1 rinciples1
7ani/estations o/ the 4ne 9i/e# Relativity5 a F0nda-ental 6onception o/ the ,ncient
:isdo-# !20K"
6hapter 27 # The T.o F0nda-ental <os-ical Aierarchies5 7atter and Spirit'6onscio0sness#
6haos'Theos'<os-os5 Bods'7onads',to-s# !24K"
6hapter 2+ # The ,dvent0re o/ an ,to-# 9aya'centers5 S0n1 6o-ets1 and lanets; So0l and
7onad# The <eynote o/ 4cc0ltis-# !18K"
6hapter 29 # Space5 the %o0ndless ,ll# $n/illed .ith $nterloc2ing1 $nterpenetrating Universes#
4ne ,ction1 4ne Aierarchical $ntelligence1 4ne 6o0rse o/ 4peration thro0gho0t &at0re5 4ne
4rganis-1 4ne Universal 9i/e# !20K"
6hapter 3) # The $nterrelation o/ Bods1 7onads1 ,to-s ? a <ey to the =octrine o/ Evol0tion#
S0ccessive E-anations5 Sheaths# Aigher %eings E-anating and 6lothing The-selves in
Aosts o/ 9o.er %eings# 7orality %ased on the Str0ct0re o/ the Universe# !21K"
6hapter 31 # The %0ilding o/ the <os-os# The Sa-e F0nda-ental 9a. thro0gho0t 9i/e and
%eing5 an Endless 9adder o/ rogress# ,nalogical rocesses o/ <os-ical and sychological
=evelop-ent# The River o/ 9i/e# !33K"
6hapter 32 # 40t o/ the $nvisible into the Fisible# Fro- the Fisible into the $nvisible# The
7agn0- 4p0s# !24K"
6hapter 33 # The 9i/e'.ave and the Seven Ele-ents# The Esoteric hilosophy as Ta0ght by
the Stoics# !24K"
6hapter 3* # The Spaces o/ Space# The Secret =octrine1 a Uni/ier5 Universal <eys# =octrines
o/ the Foid and o/ the F0llness 6ontrasted# !34K"
6hapter 3( # 4cc0ltis- and the 7ystery Schools# Seven =egrees o/ $nitiation5 7an %eco-es
a Bod# Seven <os-ic lanes5 o0r lanetary 6hain o/ Seven Blobes on the Fo0r 9o.er
lanes ? the assage o/ the 9i/e'.ave therethro0gh# !30K"
6hapter 3C # $nterpenetrating Spheres o/ %eing# 9o2as and Talas5 %ipolar <os-ical
rinciples and Ele-ents# The @Aeresy o/ Separateness#@ !36K"
6hapter 37 # The Fra-e.or2 o/ the <os-os# 9o2as and Talas5 rinciples and Ele-ents1
:orlds ? &ot States 7erely# Space the Ulti-ate Reality# !23K"
6hapter 3+ # =egeneration and 6losing o/ the Schools o/ the 7ysteries# &eopythagorean
and &eoplatonic Syste-s5 7ain So0rces o/ 6hristian Theology# Esoteric and E3oteric
Teachings5 Sy-bolis-# !30K"
6hapter 39 # Theosophy and 4cc0ltis-# 4cc0ltis-5 the G0intessence o/ Tr0th1 Reality; a
6o-plete :hole# 4cc0ltis- and 7oral Responsibility# 40r Solar Syste-5 a <os-ic ,to-1
Egg o/ %rah-a# !17K"
6hapter *) # =e/initions o/ =eity5 ,theis-; antheis-# $s there a S0pre-e ersonal Bod;
<os-ic ,rchitects and %0ilders# Really to <no.1 4ne 70st %eco-e# !31K"
6hapter *1 # The =octrine o/ the Spheres# The Universal Solar Syste- and 40r Solar
Syste-# The Seven Sacred lanets5 :hy @Sacred@; !31K"
6hapter *2 # The =octrine o/ the Spheres in its Fo0r ,spects# The Seven Sacred lanets
and their Rectors5 their Relation to o0r Earth'chain# The 6irc0lations o/ the <os-os5 40ter
Ro0nds and $nner Ro0nds; Sishtas# 4ne Universal %asic 9a.5 ,s ,bove1 So %elo.# The
Eye and the Aeart =octrines# !34K"
6hapter *3 # ,nalogy5 the 9i/e o/ 7an and the 9i/e o/ a lanetary 6hain# 4cc0ltis- and
Ethics5 @9ive the 9i/e i/ Tho0 :o0ldst <no. the =octrine# !25K"
6hapter ** # rinciples o/ Tho0ght and St0dy5 can 4cc0ltis- be Ta0ght; ,ncient ,strology a
Tr0e Science# 40r Earth'chain o/ Blobes1 the Seven Sacred lanets1 and the T.elve
Hodiacal Signs# 9i/e',to-s5 the %0ilding %loc2s o/ the Universe# !36K"
6hapter *( # hysiology1 sychology1 and ne0-atology o/ the Universe# Ten and T.elve
lanes o/ the Universal Solar Syste-5 $nter-ediate 6ritical lanes# ,ll 7ani/ested %eing a
Braded 6ontin00- o/ $nterrelated1 $nterloc2ed Aierarchies5 Each .ith its o.n %eginning and
End# Sishtas and the S0rpl0s o/ 9i/e# !46K"
6hapter *C # The 6hela 9i/e# Seven and Ten 9i/e'.aves5 the 6o0rse o/ the 7onads aro0nd
the Seven Blobes; 9a.s o/ ,cceleration on the =o.n.ard and o/ Retardation on the
Up.ard ,rc# Fi/th and Si3th Ro0nders# The Sacred :ord# !32K"
6hapter *7 # Teacher and 0pil# ReI0isites o/ 6helaship# !24K"
6hapter *+ # The Aeart o/ the Universe# The :ay to eace1 %liss1 Understanding1 is :ithin#
The Breat G0est ? <no. Thysel/ ? the :hole Secret o/ $nitiation# 40r Responsibility5 Ethical
Fal0es and the 9a.s o/ the Universe; Aar-ony# !31K"
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Foreword
$n 192* <atherine Tingley ina0g0rated .ithin the esoteric body o/ the Theosophical Society a
series o/ st0dies in The Secret Doctrine by A# # %lavats2y1 .ith Bott/ried de 0r0c2er as
lect0rer# $n spite o/ the /act that he had not st0died 0nder 7-e# %lavats2y1 as had several
a-ong those present1 she 2ne. o/ none better prepared than he to interpret this .or2 @/ro-
the esoteric standpoint#@ 7oreover1 she /elt ass0red that a/ter she .as gone he .o0ld be
there to @carry on these lessons1@ .hich 0lti-ately .o0ld be p0blished @/or later generations#@
,t the /irst -eeting on Ean0ary *th1 <atherine Tingley set the tone o/ the gatherings by
appealing to all present to cast aside everything o/ a personal and li-iting nat0re and @get
-ore in har-ony .ith o0r higher sel/ ? .ith that part that is eternal and that is trying to open
the .ay /or 0s#@ Those attending sho0ld enter1 @as did the neophytes o/ ancient days1 in the
spirit o/ sel/'/orget/0lness1@ re-e-bering that these st0dies .ere not being held pri-arily to
enlarge the intellect0al 0nderstanding o/ the st0dent1 b0t rather as an @earnest spirit0al e//ort@
to open the heart to the higher conscio0sness and sti-0late the int0ition /or service in the
daily li/e# ,/ter the lect0res <atherine Tingley spo2e /or a /e. -in0tes and 0s0ally called
0pon di//erent ones /or their co--ents1 hersel/ giving the closing re-ar2s# The -e-bers
then le/t as they had co-e1 in silence1 .hich to her had -arvelo0s potency /or inner gro.th#
$t .as in this at-osphere o/ reverence /or tr0th and /or the lightbringers o/ -an2ind that B# de
0r0c2er el0cidated the spirit0al principles 0pon .hich the @secret doctrine@ o/ the ages
rests# Fundaental! o" the #!oteric $hilo!o%h& represents the stenographic record o/ those
lect0res given /ro- 192* to 19271 .ith periodic interr0ptions d0ring <atherine Tingley8s
absence on lect0re to0rs in the United States or E0rope# $n 1931 the transcripts .ere t0rned
over to ,# Trevor %ar2er /or editing prior to p0blication in 9ondon1 the I0otations heading the
chapters having been selected by Eoseph A# F0ssell1 /riend and colleag0e o/ the a0thor#
:hat -a2es this boo2 signi/icant a-ong the -any e3positions o/ The Secret Doctrine that
have appeared since 1+++; &ot least1 perhaps1 is the inspired treat-ent o/ the vast
evol0tionary process that enco-passes the rhyth-ic rebirth o/ .orlds1 o/ h0-ans1 and o/
every living being1 /or the p0rpose o/ bringing into act0ality the /0llness o/ godhood in/olded
.ithin every god'spar2# ropelled by ancient habit .e too1 in o0r cyclic descent into earthly
li/e1 /ollo. the sa-e cos-ic ro0tes traveled by all -onads 0ntil1 the lessons o/ planetary
e3perience -astered1 .e grad0ate as sel/'evolved divinities# Ao. the 4ne beco-es the
-any1 ho. spirit irradiates every particle o/ -atter1 is the old story ? no. retold .ith a
.ondro0s clarity so that the reader discovers he has at hand those 2ey'teachings that .ill
enable hi- to test /or hi-sel/ .hether or not any religio0s or philosophic concept1 ancient or
-odern1 is in har-ony .ith @that pri-eval spirit0al and nat0ral revelation@ accorded the /irst
thin2ing h0-ans on earth# Thro0gho0t1 li2e a golden sheen on the /ar horiDon o/ ti-e1 he
perceives the oneness o/ h0-anity8s spirit0al inheritance and o0r co--onality o/ divine origin
and goal# F0rther1 there is .ide scholarship here5 not only are the ter-s /ro- the Sans2rit1
Aebre.1 and other ancient literat0res e3plained ety-ologically1 b0t they are given richer
interpretation in the light o/ =r# de 0r0c2er8s 2no.ledge o/ o0r early racial history and o/ the
traditional lore and sacred script0res o/ 4rient and 4ccident#
For -any1 ho.ever1 the greatest gi/t o/ all is his restorative tr0st in the dignity and nobility o/
-an# :e are indeed 2nights errant o/ eternity1 bent on the ancient I0est /or a .isdo- .e
2no. e3ists b0t .hich see-s ever to el0de o0r grasp# $n being re-inded o/ that I0est1 there
is generated a devotion to tr0th and to the co-passionate line o/ teachers ? a devotion that
has po.er to -ove the so0l1 to lead 0s li/e a/ter li/e to.ard those enco0nters that .ill p0ri/y
and strengthen the character and /it 0s better to serve h0-anity8s ca0se#
The revision o/ this second edition has been 0nderta2en .ith e3ceeding care and1 .hile the
/e. passages that pertained strictly to the esoteric nat0re o/ the sessions have been deleted
as have so-e o/ the repetitions that are inevitable .hen a series o/ addresses is p0blished
al-ost verbati-1 the lect0re -aterial has been le/t practically intact#
To have condensed and syste-atiDed the presentation .o0ld have /oiled the intent o/ the
a0thor# $ntangibly1 yet step by step1 he b0ilds at-osphere as he to0ches on this teaching or
that1 carries the tho0ght /or a distance and then t0rns to another teaching1 see-ingly
di//erent1 yet relevant to the larger pict0re he is 0n/olding# $n a later chapter or t.o he -ay
ret0rn to the earlier the-es1 develop the- /or a ti-e1 then again -ove on to other doctrines#
=r# de 0r0c2er re-ar2s -ore than once that in this he is deliberately /ollo.ing the ancient
esoteric -ethod o/ i-parting sacred tr0ths5 repetition o/ the salient tho0ght1 b0t al.ays .ith
s0//icient variation and enlarge-ent o/ vision to dra. the st0dent on so that the -ind .ill not
set itsel/ in -olds# The -ind that re-ains /l0id is -ore responsive to int0ition and the /lo. o/
light that -ay spontaneo0sly ill0-ine the so0l .hen the inner nat0re is att0ned#
$t is o/ interest that the original edition o/ Fundaental! o" the #!oteric $hilo!o%h& p0blished
in 1932 did not incl0de the /irst t.o lect0res1 b0t began .ith the third one# Their o-ission no
do0bt .as inadvertent; b0t1 providentially1 a /e. years a/ter the a0thor8s death <irby Fan
7ater1 archivist /or the Society1 t0rned 0p the t.o -issing lect0res a-ong papers .hich
pres0-ably had been ret0rned .ith other -aterial to headI0arters /ro- the E0ropean
centers to .hich <atherine Tingley had sent the- in 192*1 to be shared .ith @appreciative
-inds#@ The pertinent portions o/ these -eetings are no. incorporated as sections i and ii o/
chapter 11 preceding section iii .hich originally appeared as the /irst chapter o/ the 1932
edition# The present vol0-e is enhanced by their incl0sion1 /or they a-pli/y and deepen =r#
de 0r0c2er8s interpretation o/ the three /0nda-ental propositions .ith .hich A# # %lavats2y
opens her -agn0- op0s and .hich @pervade the entire syste- o/ tho0ght@ she proceeds to
o0tline#
:e ac2no.ledge .ith gratit0de the e//icient help o/ all in o0r printing and editorial
depart-ents1 .ith a special .ord o/ co--endation to Ray-ond R0gland /or his -etic0lo0s
care in resetting the entire boo2 in a -ore readable type/ace; to Ea-es T# %elderis /or
redra.ing the -any diagra-s; and to :illia- T# S# Thac2ara /or -aintaining e3cellence in
every phase o/ the boo28s physical prod0ction; /or the several proo/readings reI0ired1 deep
appreciation to Elsa'%rita Titchenell1 7an0el 4derberg1 $ngrid Fan 7ater1 and ,# St0dley and
Eloise Aart; li2e.ise to Eohn # Fan 7ater1 librarian1 /or assistance to 7rs# Titchenell and 7r#
4derberg in chec2ing the n0-ero0s I0otations and re/erences /ro- original so0rces# $t goes
.itho0t saying that the close cooperation o/ the editorial co--ittee1 ,# St0dley Aart1 $da #
7o//ett1 and Sarah %elle =o0gherty !.ho also prepared the enlarged inde3"1 -ade the tas2 o/
editing the te3t /or p0blication inco-parably lighter#
,/ter a near hal/'cent0ry1 Fundaental! o" the #!oteric $hilo!o%h&re-ains an e3cellent
introd0ctory st0dy o/ theosophy /or today8s readers in search o/ the very tr0ths that disciples
o/ olden ti-es1 holding the /0el o/ devotion in their hands1 so0ght to learn o/ sages and rishis#
'()*# F+ K,-*.#
)%ril 27/ 1979
$a!adena/ *ali"ornia
PART ONE
hapter One
The Three F0nda-ental ropositions# The Sel/5 7an8s $n-ost 9in2 .ith the
Un0tterable# The Esoteric hilosophy5 Ta0ght in all the ,ncient
Religions#
Part I
# # # neither the collective Aost !=e-i0rgos"1 nor any o/ the .or2ing po.ers individ0ally1
are proper s0b>ects /or divine hono0rs or .orship# ,ll are entitled to the grate/0l reverence
o/ A0-anity1 ho.ever1 and -an o0ght to be ever striving to help the divine evol0tion
o/ 0dea!/ by beco-ing to the best o/ his ability a co1wor2er with nature in the cyclic tas2#
The ever 0n2no.able and incogniDable Karana alone1 the *au!ele!! 6a0se o/ all ca0ses1
sho0ld have its shrine and altar on the holy and ever 0ntrodden gro0nd o/ o0r heart ?
invisible1 intangible1 0n-entioned1 save thro0gh @the still s-all voice@ o/ o0r spirit0al
conscio0sness# Those .ho .orship be/ore it1 o0ght to do so in the silence and the
sancti/ied solit0de o/ their So0ls; -a2ing their spirit the sole -ediator bet.een the- and
the 3ni4er!al S%irit/ their good actions the only priests1 and their sin/0l intentions the only
visible and ob>ective sacri/icial victi-s to the $re!ence+ ? A# # %lavats2y1 The Secret
Doctrine/ $1 2+)
:E SA4U9= all /eel deeply and grate/0lly sensible o/ the occasion .hich is here given to 0s
to approach along the paths o/ tho0ght the doctrines .hich /ro- i--e-orial ti-e have
enlightened the intellect o/ o0r /ello. st0dents1 have given co0rage to strong hearts 0nder
persec0tion1 and have directed the /orces o/ the .orld along the lines .hich -en hold
dearest ? the lines o/ religion and the ethical principles .hich govern h0-an cond0ct#
ersonally $ a- deeply sensible o/ the responsibility .hich <atherine Tingley has p0t 0pon
-e1 to say .ords .hich shall be si-ple1 condensed1 clear1 help/0l# Aer instr0ctions are to
ta2e the literary -asterpiece o/ Aelena etrovna %lavats2y8s li/e1 her Secret Doctrine/ and
/ro- beginning to end o/ it to0ch1 i/ possible1 0pon every -ain doctrine therein contained1 and
prod0ce a record and interpretation o/ its teachings .hich all -inds can 0nderstand and
.hich .ill be help/0l to all -e-bers o/ the School both here and thro0gho0t the .orld#
The s0b>ect is a great one5 great in scope1 great in possibilities# $ approach the d0ty given -e
.ith a tr0e a.e1 .ith -y heart /illed .ith reverence /or these venerable doctrines .hich /ro-
ti-es so /ar bac2 that @the -ind o/ -an r0nneth not to the contrary@ o/ the- have provided
the .orld .ith its religions1 its philosophies1 its sciences1 its arts1 its ethics1 and there/ore its
govern-ents#
The Secret Doctrine is acc0rately na-ed# $t is the teaching .hich in all ti-es has been held
secret and esoteric# The .orld religions o/ the past and present -ay be proved to have
spr0ng /ro- it; the great religio0s philosophies o/ the $ndian enins0la1 -ost easily so# The
teachings o/ pre'Spanish ,-erica1 o/ E0rope in pagan ti-es so called; the legends1 the
-yths1 the /airy tales in all the co0ntries o/ the .orld1 .hich .e -ay e3e-pli/y by the
teachings in the Scandinavian Eddas and the ,nglo'Sa3on Epics ? these great .or2s .hich
so -any people thin2 to be only sagas or stories ? are spr0ng in their origin /ro- the secret
.isdo- .hich A# # %lavats2y has i-bodied and o0tlined in her -asterly .or2#
These things are i-portant to re-e-ber# The h0-an -ind has never prod0ced in any part o/
the .orld -erely .ild and 0nbased1 0n/o0nded or -erely -ythical state-ents o/ religion#
Religion1 li2e everything else1 begins .ith ideas and ends .ith dog-as and -yths# $n all
dog-as -ay be /o0nd the seed o/ the esoteric root /ro- .hich they sprang# $n the 6hristian
religion ? .hose dog-as have been -an'-ade and have been christened Bod'-ade ? its
dog-as too are /o0nded to a large e3tent 0pon the ancient pagan teachings1 and there/ore
0lti-ately 0pon the esoteric tr0ths i-bodied in this vast collection o/ teachings .hich A# #
%lavats2y has called The Secret Doctrine+ $n it she has atte-pted to bring bac2 in o0tline
only1 rarely in detail1 so-e /0nda-ental principles o/ this archaic doctrine1 the sa-e all over
the .orld1 the sa-e in all ti-es; interpreted vario0sly by vario0s -en in vario0s nations#
A# # %lavats2y opens her .or2 by eno0ncing three /0nda-ental propositions1 three basic
/acts# $t see-s to -e that a correct 0nderstanding o/ these post0lates .o0ld eli-inate the
-any -is0nderstandings that e3ist today a-ong -en regarding the basic tr0ths in religio0s
tho0ght# They 0ni/y1 they separate never#
First1 is her en0nciation o/ an inscr0table rinciple; the second post0late in the proe- o/ The
Secret Doctrine is that the 0niverse is the playgro0nd1 as it .ere1 the /ield1 the arena1 the
scene1 o/ incessant1 eternal1 never'ceasing periodicity5 that is to say1 cyclical -ove-ent1 the
-ani/esting o/ the eternal li/e in the cyclical appearance and disappearance o/ .orlds ? stars1
planets1 and the other celestial bodies in the cos-ic container .hich -en so vag0ely and
inacc0rately call space# She tells 0s1 voicing the teaching o/ the ancient .isdo-1 that these
.orlds co-e and go li2e spar2s1 -ystically called the @spar2s o/ eternity#@ The li/e cycle o/
each o/ the greater bodies is o/ necessity o/ i--ense d0ration; and .hen .e spea2 o/ ti-e1
h0-an 0nderstanding de-ands that .e shall have so-e -eas0re by .hich .e can
0nderstand .hat .e -ean by ti-e1 and by co--on consent the period o/ the earth8s
revol0tion aro0nd the s0n1 .hich .e call one year1 has been ta2en as an arbitrary -eas0re#
The third post0late ? by no -eans the least in i-portance1 that .hich is easiest to
0nderstand and .hich /or 0s perhaps is -ost pregnant .ith tr0th ? is that the 0niverse and all
in it are one i--ense1 eternal organis-# 9et 0s be care/0l here lest .e /all into the doctrine
called -onis- .hich teaches1 brie/ly1 that everything in the 0niverse is 0lti-ately derived
/ro- one -aterial ca0se# EI0ally -0st .e avoid /alling into the erroneo0s doctrine o/
-onotheis-1 or the teaching that the 0niverse and all in it are the creation by the /iat and
caprice o/ an in/inite and eternal personal Bod# The /or-er doctrine is si-ply -aterialis-; the
latter al-ost eI0ally -aterialistic#
This third /0nda-ental proposition tells 0s not -erely that the 0niverse is one .ith all that is
in it1 b0t -ore partic0larly that the being o/ -an ? his body1 his bodies; his so0l1 his so0ls;
and his spirit ? is b0t the o//spring1 the /r0itage o/ /orces# Aere .e co-e 0pon one o/ the
teachings -ost necessary /or 0s to 0nderstand in the -agni/icent s.eep o/ theosophical
philosophy1 that o/ hierarchies; that is to say1 that the 2os-os1 the 0niverse1 .hile one
organis-1 is nevertheless /or-ed o/ steps or gradations o/ beings1 conscio0snesses or
intellects1 o/ all vario0s 2inds1 in .hich the 0niversal li/e -ani/ests1 and that these are
interrelated1 correlated and coordinated1 and .or2 together in one 0nity to.ards one co--on
ob>ect and end#
:e see th0s that .e are not -erely children o/ earth1 beings li2e b0tter/lies1 born o/ a day;
b0t verily spar2s o/ the heart o/ being1 o/ the central /ire o/ the 0niversal li/e# $/ .e co0ld /eel
this .onder/0l tr0th in o0r hearts1 and i/ .e co0ld carry o0r /eeling into o0r daily lives1 no
/orce .o0ld be greater to govern o0r cond0ct than it; nothing co0ld better -old o0r destinies
or p0t 0s 0pon a nobler path o/ achieve-ent and service#
RealiDing that .e are one 0nity .ith all that is; that 0niversal brotherhood is a /act o/ being1
rooted in the very heart o/ things1 0nescapable1 not to be avoided; and that o0r acts and
tho0ghts act and react .ith inevitable conseI0ence in all that .e thin2 and do ? not only
0pon o0rselves1 the thin2ers and actors1 b0t on all other beings every.here ? ho. di//erent
-ight the lives o/ -en beK Aere1 -ore than in the /irst t.o /0nda-ental propositions1 do .e
/ind the tr0e religio0s1 scienti/ic1 and philosophical basis o/ -orals# &o -an can .or2 0nto
hi-sel/; inevitably1 inviolably he .or2s 0nto others li2e.ise# :hat he does a//ects others#
These teachings are realities1 real things#
9et 0s have the 2no.ledge o/ it1 let 0s realiDe that every tho0ght is a thing .hich event0ates
no. or at so-e later day in an action; that the acc0-0lation o/ tho0ghts along any one line
shall prod0ce its proper e//ect or e//ects; that in the chain o/ being one thing leads to another1
and that o0r -oral and physical responsibility is precisely so-ething that .e can never
escape# :hen -an realiDes that he is responsible and inevitably .ill be called to an
acco0nting1 and that at any instant sel/ishness o/ -otive or godli2e love and co-passion
direct his acts1 then .e shall have every right to loo2 /or a regenerated -an2ind#
Part II
$n res0-ing o0r tal2 o/ last .ee21 in .hich .e considered the three /0nda-ental post0lates o/
the esoteric philosophy .hich A# # %lavats2y o0tlined in the /irst pages o/ The Secret
Doctrine/ .e -0st re-e-ber that .e are dealing .ith s0b>ects so abstract1 so abstr0se1 that
to attain to a si-pli/ication o/ the- is a tas2 beset .ith -any di//ic0lties1 s0rro0nded as it is
.ith the /orces o/ pre>0dice1 and de-anding also the 0se o/ s0ch .ords that all -inds .ill
0nderstand at least the -ain tho0ght i-bodied in o0r tal2s#
:ith regard to this I0estion o/ .ords1 no science or philosophy1 no religio0s tho0ght1 can
atte-pt to interpret itsel/ to the .orld .itho0t having its o.n co-plete technical vocab0lary;
other.ise it is /aced .ith -isconstr0ction1 -is0nderstanding1 /reI0ent needless opposition#
For this reason certain .ords have been 0sed1 largely dra.n /ro- the 4riental religions1
beca0se there and there only1 as regards religions .hich still live1 do .e /ind tho0ghts and
the proper treat-ent o/ the- .hich also e3ist in the ancient .isdo-1 today called theosophy#
Scarcely one o/ these ter-s1 ho.ever1 has been properly interpreted or 0nderstood1 precisely
beca0se they are /or the -ost part Sans2rit .ords ? not -erely .ords /ro- that lang0age1
b0t .ords .hich have also received color and -eaning and application in religions .hich still
0se the-# Even English ter-s have -eanings varying according to the places .here .e /ind
the-# Aence1 as said be/ore1 it .ill be necessary in st0dying The Secret Doctrine care/0lly to
set /orth the -eaning in .hich these .ords are 0sed ? a -eaning philosophic1 a -eaning
religio0s1 and a -eaning c0rrent in the pop0lar .al2s o/ li/e# %0t /irst it .o0ld see- good to
I0ote /ro- A# # %lavats2y the paragraph occ0rring at the botto- o/ page 131 preceding her
treat-ent o/ these /0nda-ental propositions5
%e/ore the reader proceeds to the consideration o/ the StanDas /ro- the %oo2 o/ =Dyan
.hich /or- the basis o/ the present .or21 it is absol0tely necessary that he sho0ld be
-ade acI0ainted .ith the /e. /0nda-ental conceptions .hich 0nderlie and pervade the
entire syste- o/ tho0ght to .hich his attention is invited# These basic ideas are /e. in
n0-ber1 and on their clear apprehension depends the 0nderstanding o/ all that /ollo.s;
there/ore no apology is reI0ired /or as2ing the reader to -a2e hi-sel/ /a-iliar .ith the-
/irst1 be/ore entering on the per0sal o/ the .or2 itsel/#
These three propositions -ay be called a synopsis o/ the entire syste- o/ esoteric
philosophy# They are an epito-e o/ the religio0s and philosophic reasoning o/ the h0-an
so0l /ro- ti-es vanishing into 0n2no.n antiI0ity# &ecessarily1 there/ore1 are they very
di//ic0lt to 0nderstand1 and in so-e o/ their reaches they cannot be 0nderstood /0lly by the
h0-an -ind# For instance1 .hile .e cannot say .ith re/erence to this /irst proposition .hat
this rinciple i!1 nevertheless .e can tal2 abo0t it1 tal2 aro0nd it1 say .hat it is not1 as A# #
%lavats2y hersel/ does .hen1 a/ter saying that in the .ords o/ the Upanishad it is
@0nthin2able and 0nspea2able1@ she proceeds to spea2 o/ it and to give the ancient teaching
abo0t it as it .as 0nderstood by the greatest -inds o/ olden ti-es#
This /irst proposition is e3pressed by her as /ollo.s5
,n 4-nipresent1 Eternal1 %o0ndless1 and $--0table R$&6$9E on .hich all spec0lation
is i-possible1 since it transcends the po.er o/ h0-an conception and co0ld only be
d.ar/ed by any h0-an e3pression or si-ilit0de# $t is beyond the range and reach o/
tho0ght ? in the .ords o/ 7and02ya LUpanishadM @0nthin2able and 0nspea2able#@
:hat do .e -ean by %rinci%le/ as a .ord; $t has -any -eanings5 it -ay -ean a r0le o/
cond0ct; it -ay be 0sed in the sense o/ ca0se; or in its ety-ological -eaning as beginning#
The .ord %rince is /ro- the sa-e 9atin root1 -eaning the head o/ the -en o/ his state1 the
beginning o/ >0stice1 the /o0ntain o/ la. and order#
&o. .hat does A# # %lavats2y -ean in choosing the .ord %rinci%le; ,re .e to 0nderstand
that it is 0sed in the sense o/ a p0re abstraction1 as .hen one says si3 or long; Si3 .hat; 4r
.hat is it .hich is long; :ords so 0sed are p0re abstractions; they have no application and
no -eaning 0nless connected .ith so-e ob>ect# $n other .ords1 they signi/y nothing in
especial; and there/ore i/ .e choose to 0nderstand A# # %lavats2y8s 0se o/ this
.ord %rinci%le/ in the sense o/ a p0re abstraction .itho0t application to any s0b>ect o/ tho0ght
or thing1 then .e -0st concl0de that the rinciple o/ .hich she spea2s is p0re nothingness ?
not no thing1 b0tnothing in the ordinary sense# :hen she spea2s o/ a rinciple1 ho.ever1 she
0ses it .ith a p0rpose and a -eaning; hence rinciple does not -ean nothingness# Net .e
cannot call this ,ll1 this 7ystery1 this Space ? .hich are other .ords that she gives it ? by the
na-e o/ any thing# 4n the other hand1 it is not a being1 it is not an entity1 it is nothing li-ited1
no -atter ho. great or ho. apparently bo0ndless#
roperly to 0nderstand .hy and ho. ancient thin2ers 0sed .ords s0ch as this1 .e introd0ce
here a 2ey to ancient .isdo-1 and it is this5 the tho0ght o/ ancient ti-es the .orld over
.as anthro%ocentric/ not as de/ined in dictionaries today1 -eaning that -an is the highest
goal o/ creation in the ordinary 6hristian sense1 or that the 0niverse revolves aro0nd -an as
the -ost i-portant thing in creation# This sense is by 0sage a per-issible one1 b0t it is not
the sense in .hich the .ord is 0sed .hen .e apply it to this ancient 2ey# Aere is the
-eaning1 di//ic0lt to 0nderstand1 b0t very i-portant /or the proper interpretation o/ the .isdo-
set /orth in The Secret Doctrine+ , -an thin2s# Ae thin2s .ith his o.n tho0ghts /ro- .hat is
in hi-sel/# Ae cannot thin2 in the -ind o/ another -an# er/orce1 by the necessities o/ his
o.n being1 his tho0ghts /ollo. the cast or bent o/ his o.n nat0re5 spring /ro- .ithin hi-1 as
/ro- a /o0ntain1 and this1 as applied to the religio0s and philosophic tho0ght o/ the ancients is
the -eaning o/ the .ord anthropocentric1 as .e shall 0se it#
The .ord itsel/ is /ro- the Bree21 anthro%o!/ @-an@ in the general sense1 li2e the Ber-an
.ord Men!ch/ not -an in the individ0al sense# $t -eans that the ancients loo2ed 0pon their
religio0s philosophy and their philosophic syste-s as springing "ro within an hi!el"1
hence they .ere anthropocentric# Si-ilar to this .as their treat-ent o/ the pheno-ena o/
nat0re1 .hich .as based on the pheno-enal /act that the earth .as the apparent center o/
the solar syste-# So is any other planet# :e have re-nants o/ this syste- in o0r o.n
lang0ages today1 .hen .e spea2 o/ the @rising@ and the @setting@ o/ the s0n1 and so /orth#
&o.1 then1 treating the ancient .isdo- /ro- the anthropocentric position1 the ancient thin2ers
realiDed that to render /orth the tho0ghts .hich sprang 0p .ithin the- they -0st 0se h0-an
lang0age1 h0-an si-iles1 h0-an -etaphors# 4nly in this /ashion co0ld they receive so-e
degree o/ the attentive consideration .hich they1 as teachers o/ this ancient .isdo-1 -erited#
Aence .e /ind the application o/ the anthropocentric idea to this .ord %rinci%le ? a .ord
.hich can be 0sed both as an abstraction or in a concrete -aterial sense#
4bvio0sly A# # %lavats2y did not 0se %rinci%le in a -aterial sense# :hat1 then1 did she -ean
to convey; That this rinciple beyond the reach o/ h0-an tho0ght -0st be all that .hich
passes h0-an 0nderstanding and .hich /or that reason .e can only call the ,ll ? a .ord
si-ply e3pressing o0r ignorance1 it is tr0e; b0t it does e3press the /act that this ine//able
rinciple is ,ll# Ulti-ately /ro- it .e sprang1 bac2 to it .e are >o0rneying thro0gh the aeons o/
illi-itable ti-e# ,ll tho0ghts 0lti-ately ca-e /ro- it1 b0t by no /iat o/ a thin2ing -ind1 ho.ever
great# The ancient philosophy tells 0s that .e -ay li2en the /irst stirrings o/ being in this ,ll to
the li/e ger- in an egg# Ao. -arvelo0s it is that a thing .hich1 .hen che-ically analyDed1
consists o/ b0t a /e. ele-ents o/ -atter1 yet i/ not dist0rbed or destroyed1 0nder proper
conditions1 brings /orth a living beingK
7any are the religions .hich have treated o/ this rinciple in varying .ays# 9et 0s /irst ta2e
the Aebre. in ill0stration o/ the tho0ght1 beca0se /ro- it1 largely1 sprang the 6hristian
doctrines# Since -ost o/ 0s .ere born in 6hristian co0ntries1 the doctrines .hich that ch0rch
has had are -ost /a-iliar to 0s1 and this1 perhaps1 is a s0//icient e3c0se /or choosing it as o0r
/irst ill0stration# @$n the beginning1@ that is to say1 @$n the rinciple1@ and so translated in the
Bree2 Sept0agint1 @Bod -ade the .orld and the .orld .as .itho0t /or- and void1 and the
Spirit o/ Bod -oved 0pon the .aters#@ &o. here is a .onder/0l thing# The tho0ght in those
lines is by no -eans .ell e3pressed philosophically1 b0t it does contain the esoteric teaching
as .e have it here in The Secret Doctrine5 @$n the beginning@ ? @$n the rinciple@ ? @$n the ,ll#@
The ne3t state-ent is that @Bod@ !the original Aebre. is #lohi" -ade the earth and the
earth .as /or-less and void# :hat does 4oid -ean; 9et -e re-ind yo0 that the .ord here
-eans -ore than @e-pty@; it -eans properly1 in this application1intangi6le1 iaterial1 as .e
.o0ld say1 an astral .orld1 a spirit0al .orld1 even#
@,nd the spirit o/ Elohi- -oved 0pon the .aters#@ :hat .aters; :here .ere the .aters
0pon .hich @Elohi-@ or the @Bods@ -oved; :hy sho0ld they -ove 0pon the
@.aters@; 7ater is a ter- 0sed in the ancient religions as signi/ying space1 the .aters o/
space# :e have here a treat-ent o/ an i--aterial .orld1 bro0ght /orth /ro- the ,ll by
po.ers1 by gods i/ yo0 li2e ? the .ord -atters nothing ? and o/ the spirit1 the /orce o/ these
beings1 -oving over or .ithin this intangible and i--aterial globe or .orld#
T0rning to the Farther 4rient and ta2ing 0p the Sans2rit teachings as e3pressed in the Feda
? the -ost ancient and highly revered religio0s and philosophical .or2s o/ Aind0stan ? .e
/ind in the translation o/ 6olebroo2e the /ollo.ing5
&or ,0ght nor &a0ght e3isted; # # #
Thin2 o/ the tho0ght in this# &either so-e thing nor no thing e3isted#
# # # yon bright s2y O :as not1 nor heaven8s broad roo/ o0tstretched above# O :hat covered
all; .hat sheltered; .hat concealed; O :as it the .ater8s /atho-less abyss; O
,gain the re/erence to the .aters o/ space#
There .as not death ? yet there .as na0ght i--ortal1 O There .as no con/ine bet.i3t day
and night; O The only 4ne breathed breathless by itsel/1 O 4ther than $t there nothing since
has been# O =ar2ness there .as1 and all at /irst .as veiled O $n gloo- pro/o0nd ? an ocean
.itho0t light ? O The ger- that still lay covered in the h0s2 O %0rst /orth1 one nat0re1 /ro-
the /ervent heat#
See the -arvelo0s atte-pt to render into ordinary h0-an lang0age1 into co--onplace
/ig0res o/ speech1 ho.ever bea0ti/0l1 tho0ghts .hose s0btility and pro/0ndity the h0-an -ind
can reach to.ards1 grasp /or1 atte-pt to reach ? and yet -0st largely /ail# ,nd nevertheless
.e sense1 .e /eel1 as it .ere by an inner conscio0sness1 the e3istence1 the reality1 the
act0ality1 o/ that .hich .e 2no. is1 and /ail to tell#
Aere .e have a state-ent that @no thing@ .as and @not no thing@ .as# To this1 by reason o/
o0r anthropocentric 0nderstanding1 .e can give no h0-an na-e; yet1 as the -ind .or2s
analogically1 the Feda tells 0s that the ger- o/ li/e arose in $t as $t then .as# So is $t no.1
nothing less1 nothing gone1 nothing added; al.ays the sa-e so /ar as .e can see1 and yet
changing ever# Utter i--obility is death# $n $t death e3ists not# 7otion1 as .e 0nderstand it1 is
li/e1 and yet in $t s0ch li/e in reality e3ists not# $t is in reality neither in -otion nor -otionless#
,ll .e can li2en $t to1 /ollo.ing the anthropocentric r0le1 is 0tter space1 containing 0nending
-otion a! we under!tand it/ in in/inity1 in eternity ? and all these are b0t .ords1 an open
con/ession o/ the inability o/ the h0-an -ind to reach it# Net ho. noble1 ho. pro0d1 a
state-ent it is o/ the -ighty /orces o/ the h0-an spirit .hich can reach 0p1 and even get
so-e inti-ation o/ the 0n0tterable#
4n page t.o o/ the /irst vol0-e o/ her .or21 A# # %lavats2y says5 @$t is the 4&E 9$FE1
eternal1 invisible1 yet 4-nipresent1 .itho0t beginning or end1 yet periodical in its reg0lar
-ani/estations1 # # #@
$s it possible in.ardly to conceive the i--ensity o/ this spacial ,ll and o0r 2os-os1 o0r
0niverse1 as hanging /ro- $t by a thread o/ spirit ? o0r 0niverse1 not alone o0r d0st spec2 o/
earth1 b0t the 0niverse co-prised .ithin the encircling Done o/ the 7il2y :ay ? and the
n0-berless other 0niverses hanging /ro- $t; So1 .hen .e read @eriodical in its reg0lar
-ani/estations1@ .e inevitably /ollo. the anthropocentric la. o/ o0r being and reason as -en#
The ,ll itsel/ never -ani/ests; $t is the 3nani"e!t8 b0t it is tr0e nevertheless that /ro- $t
-ani/estation proceeds# To .hat can .e li2en $t then; :hat .ere the pict0res1 the
-etaphors1 by .hich the ancients e3plained the -ani/est proceeding /ro- the 0n-ani/est ?
the -aterial /ro- the i--aterial1 li/e /ro- not'li/e1 personality /ro- nonpersonality1 being1
entity1 /ro- nonbeing and nonentity; Aere is one /ig0re5 the .orld'principle is the s0n# The
s0n sends /orth inn0-erable rays o/ light; .e -ay ass0-e that the sending /orth is eternal
and in all directions; and that the rays o/ light are part o/ that .hich sends the- /orth# Th0s
did the ancients li2en the s0n to this ,ll# The s0n itsel/ in their philosophy .as b0t the -aterial
-ani/estation on this plane o/ a hierarchic series .hich had its roots again in-eshed in
so-ething still higher than itsel/1 and so /orth# Ao. did they describe this rinciple1 this
Unspea2able1 in the Fedas; Silence and dar2ness s0rro0nded the tho0ght and they si-ply
called it Tat; the English translation is @that@ ? not even @Bod1@ not even @the Shining 4ne@; it
.as li-ited by no ad>ective1 si-ply That#
,nother /ig0re .as the :orld Tree1 even -ore 0niversal than that o/ the s0n1 /o0nd in the
Aind0 script0res1 in the ancient ,-erican 7aya1 $nca1 Toltec sy-bols1 /o0nd also in ancient
E0rope and preserved to this day in the Scandinavian Eddas# The :orld Tree ? ho. is it
i-agined; $t .as /ig0red as gro.ing /ro- above do.n.ards1 its roots rooted in That1 and its
tr0n21 its -ani/old branches1 and its t.igs1 and its leaves1 and its /lo.ers1 stretching
do.n.ards in all directions and representing the -ani/esting and -ani/ested li/e1 the
incalc0lable things into .hich this cos-ic river1 this spirit0al /lood o/ being1 r0ns#
S0ppose a tip at the end o/ the lo.est1 0t-ost branch1 the tip o/ a lea/5 it dra.s its li/e /ro-
the lea/1 the lea/ /ro- the t.ig1 the t.ig /ro- the branch1 the branch /ro- a larger branch1 the
larger branch /ro- a larger one still1 it /ro- the tr0n21 the tr0n2 /ro- the roots1 the roots ? .hy
proceed /0rther; :e can contin0e inde/initely# %0t the ancients1 .ith their deep religio0s /aith1
si-ply said That .hen re/erring to that .hich transcends h0-an po.er o/ conception# Th0s1
.hen A##%# says here1 @yet periodical in its reg0lar -ani/estations1@ so -0st .e 0nderstand
it# $t is her o.n teaching that $t -ani/ests never1 b0t /ro- $t springs all li/e# @%et.een .hich
periods r0ns the dar2 -ystery o/ non'%eing@ ? .hat is this state; $s it dar2 per se; $s it an
0nsolvable -ystery; $s it nothingness; :hat right have .e to thin2 so1 so to conceive it;
These are .ords 0sed o/ necessity anthropocentrically1 /ollo.ing the ancient r0le1 2no.ing
that -an can 0se no ter-s 0nderstandable by hi-sel/ and his /ello.s e3cept those .hich
/ollo. the psychological la.s o/ his o.n being# There/ore1 and .e I0ote /0rther5
# # # bet.een .hich periods reigns the dar2 -ystery o/ Lto 0sM non'%eing; 0nconscio0s Lto
0sM1 yet absol0te 6onscio0sness; 0nrealisable Lby 0sM1 yet the one sel/'e3isting reality;
tr0ly1 @a chaos to the sense1 a <os-os to the reason#@ $ts one absol0te attrib0te1 .hich is
$TSE9F1 eternal1 ceaseless 7otion Lto 0sM1 is called in esoteric parlance the @Breat
%reath1@ .hich is the perpet0al -otion o/ the 0niverse1 in the sense o/ li-itless1 ever'
present S,6E#
Part III
$n o0r last t.o -eetings .e st0died the three /0nda-ental post0lates in A# #
%lavats2y8 Secret Doctrine+ Therein .e are ta0ght that there e3ists in -an a lin2 .ith the
Un0tterable1 a cord1 a co--0nication1 that e3tends /ro- $t to the inner conscio0sness; and
that lin2 ? s0ch is the teaching as it has co-e do.n to 0s ? is the very heart o/ being# $t
arises in that s0persensory rinciple1 that 0n0tterable 7ystery .hich A# # %lavats2y de/ines
in the /irst /0nda-ental proposition as above h0-an -ind# %eco-ing one .ith that lin21 .e
can transcend the po.ers o/ ordinary h0-an intellect1 and reach !even i/ it be by striving o0t1
0p.ard1 to.ards" that Un0tterable1 .hich is1 .e 2no. ? tho0gh it is beyond h0-an po.er to
e3press it in .ords1 or beyond h0-an tho0ght ? the concealed o/ the concealed1 the li/e o/
li/e1 tr0th o/ tr0th1 the ,99#
Aere is the tho0ght1 it see-s to -e1 .hich ill0strates so .ell <atherine Tingley8s .ords in this
regard# They str0c2 -e as very bea0ti/0l1 pro/o0ndly s0ggestive# She said5
Thin2ing to.ards the 0nthin2able is a .onder/0l1 spirit0aliDing /orce; one cannot thin2
to.ard it .itho0t a disposition either to thin2 -ore or /eel -ore ? .itho0t opening 0p the
inner conscio0sness o/ -an# ,nd .hen that inner conscio0sness is a.a2ened1 the so0l
/inds itsel/ closer to the in/inite la.s1 closer to TA,T1 or that Breat 6enter that no .ords
can e3press#
%y striving to.ards this in.ards1 to.ards the $n-ost1 .e can attain to so-e conception1 i/ not
0nderstanding1 o/ the in/inite rinciple o/ all that is# Fro- $t1 in the co0rse o/ endless d0ration1
there spring into -ani/estation at the end o/ the great 0niversal or cos-ic pralaya1 the
beginnings o/ things# These beginnings event0ate in the /or-s o/ li/e and being described in
the second and third /0nda-ental propositions#
This in-ost lin2 .ith the Un0tterable .as called in ancient $ndia by the ter- sel/1 .hich has
been o/ten -istranslated @so0l#@ The Sans2rit .ord isatan1 and applies1 in psychology1 to
the h0-an entity# The 0pper end o/ the lin21 so to spea21 .as called %araatan or the
@s0pre-e sel/1@ the per-anent sel/ ? .ords .hich describe neatly and clearly to those .ho
have st0died this .onder/0l philosophy so-e.hat o/ the nat0re and essence o/ the thing
.hich -an is1 and the so0rce /ro- .hich1 in that beginningless and endless d0ration1 he
sprang# 6hild o/ earth and child o/ heaven1 he contains both in hi-sel/#
:e pass no. /ro- considering the /irst proposition to the second and the third# ,nd in order
that .e -ay 0nderstand .hat .e -ean .hen .e 0se certain .ords1 it .ill be 0se/0l to
ill0strate o0r 0sages o/ s0ch .ords# 9et 0s ta2e 0p the re-ar2ably .ell'translated boo2
entitled The Song *ele!tial/ the .or2 o/ Sir Ed.in ,rnold# $t is a translation into English verse
o/ the 9haga4ad1'ita+ That .or2 is an episode or an interl0de /o0nd in the si3th boo2 o/
the Maha6arata/ the greater o/ the t.o great Aind0 epics; and in the style o/ the Aind0
.ritings it co-prises a dissertation on religio0s1 philosophical1 and -ystical s0b>ects# Sir
Ed.in8s Song *ele!tial/ in boo2 the second1 has the /ollo.ing5
# # #The so0l .hich is not -oved1 O The so0l that .ith a strong and constant cal- O Ta2es
sorro. and ta2es >oy indi//erently1 O 9ives in the li/e 0ndyingK That .hich is O 6an never
cease to be; that .hich is not O :ill not e3ist# To see this tr0th o/ both O $s theirs .ho part
essence /ro- accident1 O S0bstance /ro- shado.# $ndestr0ctible1 O 9earn tho0K the 9i/e is1
spreading li/e thro0gh all; O $t cannot any.here1 by any -eans1 O %e any.ise di-inished1
stayed1 or changed# O %0t /or these /leeting /ra-es .hich it in/or-s O :ith spirit deathless1
endless1 in/inite1 O They perish# # # #
&ever the spirit .as born; the spirit shall cease to be never; O &ever .as ti-e it .as not;
End and %eginning are drea-sK O %irthless and deathless and changeless re-aineth the
spirit /or ever; O =eath hath not to0ched it at all1 dead tho0gh the ho0se o/ it see-sK
&o. these .ords are e3I0isitely bea0ti/0l# They nevertheless contain a -istranslation1 a
-isrendering o/ the te3t o/ this .onder/0l little .or2# $n the /irst place1 Sir Ed.in translates the
Sans2rit .ord tat/ /irst by the .ord @so0l@ and ne3t by the .ord @spirit#@ 4/ co0rse1
analogically1 it has a re/erence to the so0l and the spirit o/ -an; b0t the Sans2rit o/ it does not
point partic0larly to the so0l o/ -an# $ .ill read a translation in prose o/ these sa-e verses1
-ade .ith no atte-pt at poetic tho0ght1 no atte-pt to 0se bea0ti/0l lang0age1 b0t si-ply to
e3press the tho0ght5
The -an .ho- these do not lead astray1 4 %0ll a-ong -enK .ho is the sa-e in pain and
pleas0re1 and o/ steady so0l1 he parta2es o/ i--ortality#
There is no e3istence /or the 0nreal; there is no none3istence /or the Real# 7oreover1 the
0lti-ate characteristic o/ both these is seen by those .ho perceive tr0e principles#
<no. That to be indestr0ctible by .hich this .hole 0niverse .as .oven#
The Sans2rit .ord /or @That@ is tat/ as already e3plained# The /ig0re is that o/ the .eaving o/ a
.eb#
The destr0ction o/ this $-perishable1 none is able to bring abo0t#
These -ortal bodies are said to be o/ the i-bodied Eternal1 $ndestr0ctible1 $--eas0rable
4ne# # # #
Ae .ho 2no.s $t as the slayer1 and he .ho thin2s $t to be the slain5 both o/ the-
0nderstand not# $t slays not1 nor is it slain#
$t is not born1 nor does it ever die; $t .as not prod0ced1 nor shall it ever be prod0ced#
$t is 0nborn1 constant1 everlasting1 pri-eval# $t is 0nh0rt .hen the body is slain#
The application that the .riter in the 9haga4ad1'ita -a2es is to the lin2 .hich .e have
spo2en o/1 the deathless1 0ndying principle .ithin 0s1 and he describes it by the .ord That1
and contrasts it .ith the -ani/ested 0niverse .hich1 /ollo.ing the ancient teachings o/ $ndia1
.as invariably spo2en o/ as This ? the Sans2rit .ord is ida+
The sages o/ olden ti-es le/t on record the inner teaching o/ the religions o/ the peoples
a-ong .ho- they lived# This inner teaching .as the esoteric philosophy1 the theosophy o/
the period# $n Aind0stan this theosophy is /o0nd in the Upanishads1 a part o/ the Fedic
literary cycle# The .ord itsel/ i-plies @secret doctrine@ or @secret teachings#@ Fro- the
Upanishads and /ro- other parts o/ the Fedic literat0re1 the ancient sages o/ $ndia prod0ced
.hat is called today the :edanta ? a co-po0nd Sans2rit .ord -eaning @the end !or
co-pletion" o/ the Feda@ ? that is to say1 instr0ction in the /inal and -ost per/ect e3position o/
the -eaning o/ the Fedic tenets#
$n ancient Breece there .ere vario0s schools and vario0s 7ysteries1 and the theosophy o/
ancient Breece .as held very secret; it .as ta0ght in the 7ysteries and it .as ta0ght by
di//erent teachers to select bodies o/ their disciples# 4ne o/ s0ch great teachers .as
ythagoras; another .as lato; and this theosophy .as -ore or less clearly o0tlined and
i-bodied1 a/ter the /all o/ the so'called pagan religions1 in .hat is today called the
&eoplatonic philosophy# $t represents act0ally the inner teachings o/ ythagoras1 lato1 and
the inner sense o/ those -ystical doctrines .hich passed c0rrent in Breece 0nder the na-e
o/ the 4rphic poe-s#
4/ the theosophy o/ Egypt .e have b0t scanty re-ainings1 s0ch as e3ist in .hat is called
@The %oo2 o/ the =ead#@ 4/ the theosophy o/ ancient ,-erica1 o/ the $ncan1 the 7ayan1
e-pires .e have ne3t to nothing# The theosophy o/ ancient E0rope has passed a.ay# ,ll that
re-ains to 0s is a certain n0-ber o/ -ystical .ritings s0ch as the Scandinavian Eddas1 and
the Ber-anic boo2s1 .hich are represented1 /or instance1 in the sagas /o0nd .ritten in the
old Aigh Ber-an and in the ,nglo'Sa3on tong0es#
, st0dy o/ the doctrines contained in the Upanishads1 in @The %oo2 o/ the =ead1@ in the
&eoplatonic philosophy1 in the Scandinavian Eddas1 and else.here1 sho.s that they had one
co--on basis1 one /o0ndation1 one co--on tr0th# Fario0s -en in vario0s ages ta0ght the
sa-e tr0th1 0sing di//erent .ords and di//erent /ig0res1 di//erent -etaphors; b0t 0nderneath
al.ays .as the ancient doctrine1 the secret .isdo-#
The theosophy o/ the Ee.s .as i-bodied in .hat .as later called the Gabbalah1 /ro- a
Aebre. .ord -eaning @to receive@; that is to say1 it .as the traditional doctrine handed do.n
or received !according to the state-ents o/ the Gabbalah itsel/" thro0gh the prophets and the
sages o/ Ee.ry1 and .as said to have been /irst ta0ght by @Bod ,l-ighty to a select co-pany
o/ angels in Aeaven#@
:e -0st re-e-ber1 .hen .e approach the teachings o/ the ancient .isdo-1 that the ancient
teachers spo2e and tho0ght and ta0ght anthro%ocentricall&8 that is1 that they all insisted on
/ollo.ing the psychological la.s o/ the h0-an -ind and there/ore ta0ght in h0-an /ig0res o/
speech1 o/ten 0sing I0aint -etaphors1 very odd1 and yet so instr0ctive as /ig0res o/ speech#
Ao. .ise that .as1 beca0se th0s they .ere able to carry on the teachings1 and did so in
s0ch /ashion that least o/ all did this anthropocentric syste- enco0rage the dog-atic r0lings
that have -ost tr0ly blasted all that .as best in the teachings o/ the 6hristian 6h0rch# These
tropes1 these -etaphors1 .ere so I0aint that the -ind 0nderstood al-ost instantly that they
.ere b0t the vehicle i-bodying the tr0th# 9et 0s re-e-ber this1 and o0r .or2 beco-es
i--ensely -ore easy#
&o. let 0s ta2e the Gabbalah as a sa-ple o/ the -anner in .hich one theosophy ? the
Ee.ish ? approaches the -ystery o/ ho. the Un-ani/est prod0ces the -ani/est1 ho. /ro-
that .hich is endless and beginningless d0ration sprang /orth -atter1 space in the sense o/
-aterial e3tension1 and ti-e#
%0t /irst let -e I0ote /ro- another Sans2rit .or21 the Kena'3%ani!had+ Spea2ing o/ this
0n0tterable 7ystery1 it says5
The eye reacheth it not1 lang0age reacheth it not1 nor does tho0ght reach to it at all; verily1
.e 2no. not nor can .e say ho. one sho0ld teach it; it is di//erent /ro- the 2no.n1 it is
beyond the 0n2no.n# Th0s have .e heard /ro- the -en o/ olden ti-es1 /or they ta0ght it
to 0s# ? 11 3'*
The great San2aracharya1 perhaps the -ost /a-o0s o/ $ndian co--entators on the
Upanishads and the -arvelo0sly bea0ti/0l syste- o/ philosophy dra.n /ro- the- called the
Fedanta1 says1 co--enting on the )itare&a13%ani!had5
There is the 4ne1 sole1 alone1 apart /ro- all d0ality1 in .hich there appear not the
-0ltit0dino0s ill0sory present-ents o/ 0nreal bodies and conditions o/ this 0niverse o/
-erely apparent reality; passionless1 0n-oving1 p0re1 in 0tter peace; 2no.able only by
the lac2 o/ every ad>ective epithet; 0nreachable by .ord or by tho0ght#
The Gabbalah1 the traditionary teaching o/ the sages a-ong the Ee.s1 is a .onder/0l
teaching; it contains in o0tline or in epito-e every /0nda-ental tenet or teaching that the
Secret =octrine contains# The teachings o/ the Gabbalah are o/ten co0ched in very I0aint
and so-eti-es a-0sing lang0age; so-eti-es its lang0age rises to the height o/ s0bli-ity#
:hat does the ;ohar/ the second o/ the great boo2s that re-ain o/ the Gabbalah !the
.ord ;ohar itsel/ -eaning @splendor@"1 have to say o/ the -anner in .hich the Ee.ish
religio0s boo2s sho0ld be st0died; $t says this !iii1 1(2a"5
:oe be to the son o/ -an .ho says that the Torah Lthe Aebre. %ible1 especially the
entate0ch1 or rather the /irst /o0r boo2s o/ the %ible e3cl0ding Deuterono&/ the /i/thM
contains co--on sayings and ordinary narratives# $/ this .ere the case .e -ight in the
present day co-pose a code o/ doctrines /ro- pro/ane .ritings .hich .o0ld e3cite
greater respect# $/ the 9a. contains ordinary -atter1 then there are nobler senti-ents in
pro/ane codes# 9et 0s go and -a2e a selection /ro- the- and .e shall be able to co-pile
a /ar s0perior code# &oK Every .ord o/ the 9a. has a s0bli-e sense and a heavenly
-ystery# # # # ,s the spirit0al angels had to p0t on earthly gar-ents .hen they descended
to this earth1 and as they co0ld neither have re-ained nor be 0nderstood on the earth
.itho0t p0tting on s0ch a gar-ent1 so it is .ith the 9a.# :hen it descended on earth1 the
9a. had to p0t on an earthly gar-ent1 in order to be 0nderstood by 0s1 and the narratives
are its gar-ent# # # # Those .ho have 0nderstanding do not loo2 at the gar-ent b0t at the
body Lthe esoteric -eaningM beneath; .hilst the .isest1 the servants o/ the heavenly <ing1
those .ho d.ell on 7o0nt Sinai1 loo2 at nothing b0t the so0l ?
i#e#1 at the 0lti-ate secret doctrine or sacred .isdo- hid 0nder the @body1@ 0nder the e3oteric
narratives or stories o/ the %ible#
$n these days1 .hen -odernists and /0nda-entalists I0arrel ? I0arrel 0nnecessarily abo0t
e3oteric s0per/icialities1 abo0t things .hich arise o0t o/ the egois- o/ -en1 abo0t the
dog-atic teachings o/ the 6hristian 6h0rch1 every one o/ the- probably based on ancient
pagan esoteric philosophy ? it is an i--ense pity that they do not 2no. and 0nderstand that
this teaching o/ the Gabbalah as e3pressed in the ;ohar is a true one; /or 0nder every
gar-ent is the li/e# ,s Ees0s ta0ght in parables1 so the %ible .as .ritten in /ig0res o/ speech1
in -etaphors#
hapter Two
:here is Reality; Tr0th can be <no.n# 7an8s 6o-posite &at0re according to
=i//erent Syste-s5 Three/old1 Fo0r/old1 Five/old1 or Seven/old#
The /0nda-ental 9a. in that syste-1 the central point /ro- .hich all e-erged1 aro0nd
and to.ard .hich all gravitates1 and 0pon .hich is h0ng the philosophy o/ the rest1 is the
4ne ho-ogeneo0s divine SU%ST,&6E'R$&6$9E1 the one radical ca0se#
# # # @So-e /e.1 .hose la-ps shone brighter1 have been led
Fro- ca0se to ca0se to nat0re8s secret head1
,nd /o0nd that one /irst rinciple -0st be# # # #@
$t is called @S0bstance'rinciple1@ /or it beco-es @s0bstance@ on the plane o/ the
-ani/ested Universe1 an ill0sion1 .hile it re-ains a @principle@ in the beginningless and
endless abstract1 visible and invisible S,6E# $t is the o-nipresent Reality5 i-personal1
beca0se it contains all and everything# 0t! i%er!onalit& i! the "undaental conce%tion o/
the Syste-# $t is latent in every ato- in the Universe1 and is the Universe itsel/# ? The
Secret Doctrine1 $1 273
$t is the Tr0e# $t is the Sel/1 and tho0 art it# ? *hhandog&a13%ani!had/ C1 1*1 3
The Tao .hich can be e3pressed in .ords is not the eternal Tao; the na-e .hich can be
0ttered is not its eternal na-e# :itho0t a na-e1 it is the %eginning o/ Aeaven and Earth;
.ith a na-e1 it is the 7other o/ all things# 4nly one .ho is eternally /ree /ro- earthly
passions can apprehend its spirit0al essence; he .ho is ever clogged by passions can
see no -ore than its o0ter /or-# These t.o things1 the spirit0al and the -aterial1 tho0gh
.e call the- by di//erent na-es1 in their origin are one and the sa-e# This sa-eness is a
-ystery ? the -ystery o/ -ysteries# $t is the gate o/ all spirit0ality# ? The Sa&ing! o" <ao
T=u !9ionel Biles1 trans#"
:E 4E& vol0-e $ o/ A# # %lavats2y8s Secret Doctrine at page 131 to the second
paragraph1 .hich is as /ollo.s5
The reader has to bear in -ind that the StanDas given treat only o/ the 6os-ogony o/ o0r
o.n planetary Syste- and .hat is visible aro0nd it1 a/ter a Solar ralaya# The secret
teachings .ith regard to the Evol0tion o/ the Universal <os-os cannot be given1 since
they co0ld not be 0nderstood by the highest -inds in this age1 and there see- to be very
/e. $nitiates1 even a-ong the greatest1 .ho are allo.ed to spec0late 0pon this s0b>ect#
7oreover the Teachers say openly that not even the highest =hyani'6hohans have ever
penetrated the -ysteries beyond those bo0ndaries that separate the -illiards o/ Solar
syste-s /ro- the @6entral S0n1@ as it is called# There/ore1 that .hich is given relates only
to o0r visible <os-os1 a/ter a @&ight o/ %rah-a#@
:e choose this as the general te3t o/ o0r st0dy this evening1 as it see-s not only appropriate
b0t necessary to open o0r st0dy o/ the -ore secret -atters o/ .hichThe Secret
Doctrine treats1 by as2ing in .hat -anner or by .hat -ethod do .e obtain an 0nderstanding
and a realiDation o/ these doctrines; =o they co-e to 0s as dog-atic teachings1 or are they
derived1 /ollo.ing the de/inition that :ebster gives o/ theosophy in his dictionary1 by inner
spirit0al co--0nion .ith @Bod@; There is so-ething in :ebster8s de/inition .hich is tr0e# The
theosophist does believe that -an has .ithin hi-sel/ the /ac0lty o/ approaching divine things1
o/ raising the inner -an so that he can thereby obtain a -ore acc0rate -ental representation
o/ thing! a! the& are1 or o/ reality#
4n the other hand1 i/ everyone did this1 .itho0t proper and capable g0idance and leading and
teaching1 e3tre-e vanity and h0-an conceit as .ell as -any other /orces in the h0-an
econo-y .o0ld inevitably lead to an i--ense diversity o/ opinions and teachings and
doctrines1 each -an believing that he had the tr0th and he only1 and hence that those .ho
/ollo.ed hi- and preached his vie.s sho0ld /or- .ith hi- a special @ch0rch@ or @sect@ o/ their
o.n# The .ords the-selves .o0ld probably be avoided1 b0t it .o0ld a-o0nt to that#
There/ore1 here .e /ind the 0se1 the bene/it1 the appositeness1 o/ the theosophical doctrines1
to the e//ect that these teachings have co-e do.n to 0s /ro- i--e-orial antiI0ity ?
trans-itted /ro- one Teacher to another ? and that originally they .ere co--0nicated to the
nascent h0-an race1 .hen once it beca-e sel/'conscio0s1 by beings /ro- a higher sphere1
beings .ho the-selves .ere o/ divine origin; and /0rther1 that this co--0nication or
e-anation o/ their spirit0al and higher intellect0al selves into 0s1 gave 0s o0r o.n higher
principles# For the Teachers have told 0s that these doctrines have been chec2ed or proved
age a/ter age1 generation a/ter generation1 by inn0-erable spirit0al seers1 to 0se A# #
%lavats2y8s o.n .ords ? chec2ed in every respect1 chec2ed as to /act1 as to origin1 chec2ed
as to operation on the h0-an -ind#
&o. then1 the /ac0lties by .hich -an can attain a 2no.ledge o/ tr0th1 o/ the real1 can be
called 0pon or evo2ed at any -o-ent in any place1 provided the right conditions are -ade1
so that the striving so0l -ay th0s reach s0ccess/0lly 0p.ard or inward/ and 2now#
So-eti-es in the -ost si-ple teachings are /o0nd the -ost divine tr0ths# ,nd .hy; %eca0se
the si-ple teachings are the /0nda-ental ones#
6onsider /or a -o-ent1 there/ore1 the seven principles o/ -an in their connection .ith the
seven principles o/ the 0niverse# The seven principles o/ -an are a li2eness or copy o/ the
seven cos-ic principles# They are act0ally the o//spring o/ the seven cos-ic principles1
li-ited in their action in 0s by the .or2ings o/ the la. o/ 2ar-a1 b0t r0nning in their origin
bac2 into That .hich is beyond1 into that .hich is the essence o/ the 0niverse or the
0niversal; in1 beyond1 .ithin1 to the Un-ani/est1 to the Un-ani/estable1 to that /irst rinciple
.hich A# # %lavats2y en0nciates as the leading tho0ght o/ the .isdo-'philosophy o/ The
SecretDoctrine+
These principles o/ -an are rec2oned as seven in the philosophy by .hich the h0-an1
spirit0al1 and psychical econo-y has been e3plained to 0s in the present age# $n other ages
these principles or parts o/ -an .ere di//erently rec2oned ? the 6hristian rec2ons the- as
body1 so0l1 and spirit1 and does not 2no. the di//erence bet.een the so0l and the spirit; and
-any say that the so0l and spirit are the sa-e#
So-e o/ the $ndian thin2ers divided -an into a basic /o0r/old entity others into a /ive/old# The
Ee.ish philosophy as /o0nd in the Gabbalah teaches that -an is divided into /o0r parts5
1# The highest and -ost spirit0al o/ all1 that principle or part .hich is to 0s a -ere breath
o/ being1 they called ne!haah#
2# The second principle .as called ruahh or spirit0al so0l1 spelled
so-eti-es ruach according to another -ethod o/ transliteration#
3# The astral so0l !or vital so0l" .as called ne%he!h/ the third ne3t lo.er1 .hich -an has
in co--on .ith the br0tes#
*# Then co-es the gu%h or physical vehicle1 the ho0se in .hich all these others d.ell#
4ver all1 and higher than all1 higher than the ne!haah ? .hich is not an e-anation o/ this
Aighest1 not a creation1 not an evol0tion1 b0t o/ .hich it .as the%roduction in a sense .hich
.e shall later have to e3plain ? there is the $ne//able1 the %o0ndless1
called #&n !or )in" So%h+
The Sans2rit ter-s .hich have been given to the seven principles o/ -an in the theosophical
philosophy are as /ollo.s1 and .e can get -0ch help /ro- e3plaining the original Sans2rit
-eanings o/ the-1 and ill0strating the sense in .hich those .ords .ere 0sed1 and .hy they
.ere chosen#
1# The /irst principle is called the !thula1!arira+ Sthula -eans @coarse1@ @gross1@ not
re/ined1 heavy1 b0l2y1 /at in the sense o/ bigness# Sarira co-es /ro- a root .hich can
best be translated by saying that it is that .hich is @easily dissolved1@ @easily .orn
a.ay@; the idea being so-ething transitory1 /oa-li2e1 /0ll o/ holes1 as it .ere# &ote the
-eaning hid in this5 it is very i-portant#
2# The second principle let 0s call the linga1!arira+ <inga is a Sans2rit .ord .hich -eans
@characteristic -ar2@; hence odel1 %attern# $t /or-s the -odel or pattern on .hich the
physical body is b0ilt ? this physical body1 co-posed -ostly o/ porosity1 i/ the
e3pression be pardoned; the -ost unreal thing .e 2no.1 /0ll o/ holes1 /oa-y1 as it .ere#
:e .ill revert to this tho0ght later#
3# The third principle1 co--only called the li/e'principle1 is %rana# &o. this .ord is 0sed
here in a general sense# There are1 as a -atter o/ /act1 a n0-ber o/ li/e'c0rrents1 vital
/l0ids# They have several na-es# 4ne syste- gives the n0-ber as three; another as
/ive1 .hich is the co--only accepted n0-ber; another as seven; another t.elve1 as is
/o0nd in so-e Upanishads; and one old .riter even gives the- as thirteen#
*# Then there is the 2aa principle; the .ord 2aa -eans @desire#@ $t is the driving or
i-pelling /orce in the h0-an econo-y; colorless1 neither good nor bad1 only s0ch as
the -ind and so0l direct its 0se#
(# Then co-es ana!; the Sans2rit root o/ this .ord -eans @to thin21@ @to cogitate1@ @to
re/lect@ ? -ental activity1 in short#
C# Then co-es 6uddhi/ or the spirit0al so0l1 the vehicle or carrier o/ the highest principle o/
all1 the at-an# &o. 6uddhi co-es /ro- a Sans2rit root 6udh+This root is co--only
translated @to enlighten1@ b0t a better translation is @to a.a2en@ and1 hence1 @to
0nderstand@; 6uddha/ the past participle o/ this root is applied to one .ho is spirit0ally
@a.a2ened1@ no longer living a living death1 b0t a.a2ened to the spirit0al in/l0ence /ro-
.ithin or /ro- @above#@ %0ddhi is the principle in 0s .hich gives 0s spirit0al
conscio0sness1 and is the vehicle o/ the -ost high part o/ -an# This highest part is the
at-an#
7# This principle !atan" is a 0niversal one; b0t d0ring incarnations its lo.est parts1 i/ .e
can so e3press it1 ta2e on attrib0tes1 beca0se it is lin2ed .ith the b0ddhi as the b0ddhi
is lin2ed .ith the -anas1 as the -anas is lin2ed to the 2a-a1 and so on do.n the scale#
,t-an is also so-eti-es 0sed o/ the 0niversal sel/ or spirit .hich is called in the Sans2rit
.ritings %rah-an !ne0ter"1 and the %rah-an or 0niversal spirit is also called
the $araatan/ a co-po0nd Sans2rit ter- -eaning the @highest@ or -ost 0niversal at-an#
The root o/ at-an is hardly 2no.n# $ts origin is 0ncertain1 b0t the general -eaning is that o/
@sel/#@
%eyond %rah-an is the $ara6rahan5 %ara is a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @beyond#@ &ote the
deep philosophical -eaning o/ this5 there is no atte-pt here to li-it the $lli-itable1 the
$ne//able1 by ad>ectives; it si-ply -eans @beyond the %rah-an#@ $n the Sans2rit Fedas and in
the .or2s deriving there/ro- and belonging to the Fedic literary cycle1 this 6e&ond is called
That1 as this .orld o/ -ani/estation is called This# 4ther e3pressive Sans2rit ter-s
are !at/ the @real@; and a!at/ the @0nreal@ or the -ani/ested 0niverse; in another
sense a!at -eans @not !at/> i#e#1 even beyond !higher than" !at+
This arabrah-an is inti-ately connected .ith Mula%ra2riti/ @root'nat0re#@ Their interaction
and inter-ingling ca0se the /irst neb0lo0s thrilling1 i/ the .ords .ill pass1 o/ the 0niversal li/e
.hen spirit0al desire /irst arose in $t in the beginnings o/ things# S0ch is the old teaching1
e-ploying o/ necessity the old anthropocentric tropes1 clearly 0nderstood to be only h0-an
si-iles; /or the conceptions o/ the seers o/ ancient ti-es1 their teachings1 their doctrines1 had
to be told in h0-an lang0age to the h0-an -ind#
&o. then1 a -an can reach in.ard1 going @0p.ard@ step by step1 cli-bing higher as his
spirit0al /orce and po.er .a3 greater and -ore s0btil1 0ntil he reaches beyond his nor-al
/ac0lties1 and steps beyond the Ring'pass'not1 as A# # %lavats2y calls it in her Secret
Doctrine# :here and .hat is this Ring'pass'not; $t is1 at any period o/ -an8s conscio0sness1
the 0t-ost reach that his spirit can attain# There he stops1 and loo2s into the %eyond ? into
the Un-ani/ested /ro- .hich .e ca-e# The Un-ani/est is in 0s; it is the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost
in o0r so0ls1 in o0r spirits1 in o0r essential beings# :e can reach toward! it# :e can act0ally
reach it never#
&o. .here is reality; $s the real1 is the tr0e1 to be /o0nd in these lo.er vest0res o/
-ateriality; 4r is it to be /o0nd in the state o/ being /ro- .hich everything ca-e;
The ancient Stoics in their .onder/0l philosophy ta0ght1 and the sa-e teaching originated in
the esoteric philosophy o/ Aellas or Breece ? as /o0nd later in the &eoplatonic teachings ?
these ancient Stoics ta0ght that tr0th can be 2no.n; that the -ost real thing1 the greatest
thing1 .as to be /o0nd in ever'receding vistas1 as the spirit o/ -an strived in.ard and beyond1
veil a/ter veil /alling a.ay as the @.ise -an@ !their technical ter-" advances in the evol0tion
o/ his so0l# They ta0ght that the -aterial 0niverse .as ill0sory precisely as the Aind0 spea2s
o/ a&a; and the Stoic 0nderstood that this apparently dense1 gross1 heavy1 -aterial
0niverse is pheno-enally 0nreal1 -ostly b0ilt 0p o/ holes1 so to say ? a teaching .hich is
reechoed today in the .ritings and tho0ghts o/ the -ore int0itional o/ o0r scientists#
The Stoics ta0ght that the ether .as denser than the -ost dense -aterial thing1 /0ller than
the -ost /0ll -aterial thing ? 0sing h0-an .ords1 o/ co0rse# To 0s1 .ith o0r h0-an eyes1
trained only to see ob>ects o/ ill0sion1 it appears to be the -ost diaphano0s1 the thinnest1 the
-ost ethereal# :hat .as the reality1 the real1 behind this ,ll; The real thing; They said it .as
Bod1 li/e o/ li/e1 tr0th o/ tr0th1 root o/ -atter1 root o/ so0l1 root o/ spirit# :hen the Stoic .as
as2ed5 :hat is Bod; he nobly ans.ered5 :hat is Bod not?
T0rning no. to the ancient .isdo- o/ Aind0stan1 to the Upanishads ? going bac2 /ar beyond
the ti-e .hen the ancient %rah-anic teachings and the %rah-anas beca-e .hat they are
today1 to the ti-e .hen real -en ta0ght real things ? let 0s ta2e /ro- the *hhandog&a1
3%ani!had1-ainly in the si3th lect0re1 a conversation bet.een a /ather and his son# The son
as2s5
@$/ a -an .ho has slept in his o.n ho0se1 rises and goes to another village1 he 2no.s that
he has co-e /ro- his o.n ho0se# :hy then do people not 2no. that they have co-e
/ro- the Sat;@ L, Sans2rit .ord -eaning the Real1 the $ne//able1 o/ .hich .e have
spo2en#M
,nd the /ather teaches his son as /ollo.s5
@These rivers1 -y son1 r0n1 the eastern to.ard the east1 the .estern to.ard the .est#
They go /ro- sea to sea# They beco-e indeed sea# ,nd as those rivers1 .hen they are in
the sea1 do not 2no.1 $ a- this or that river1
@$n the sa-e -anner1 -y son1 all these creat0res1 .hen they have co-e /ro- the Tr0e
Lthat is1 the RealM 2no. not that they have co-e /ro- the Tr0e Lon acco0nt o/ the -ayaM#
:hatever these creat0res are here1 .hether a lion1 or a .ol/1 or a boar1 or a .or-1 or a
-idge1 or a gnat1 or a -osI0ito1 that they beco-e again and again#@
&o. listen5
@That .hich is that s0btile essence1 in it all that e3ists has its sel/# $t is the Tr0e# $t is the
Sel/1 and tho01 4 Sveta2et01 art it#@ @lease1 Sir1 in/or- -e still -ore1@ said the son# @%e it
so1 -y child1@ the /ather replied#
&o. the son is s0pposed to as21 @Ao. is it that living beings1 .hen in sleep or death they are
-erged again in the Sat1 are not destroyed; :aves1 /oa-1 and b0bbles arise /ro- the .ater1
and .hen they -erge again in the .ater1 they are gone#@
@$/ so-eone .ere to stri2e at the root o/ this large tree here1@ says the /ather1 @it .o0ld
bleed1 b0t live# $/ he .ere to stri2e at its ste-1 it .o0ld bleed1 b0t live# $/ he .ere to stri2e
at its top1 it .o0ld bleed1 b0t live# ervaded by the living Sel/ that tree stands /ir-1 drin2ing
in its no0rish-ent and re>oicing;
@%0t i/ the li/e !the living Sel/" leaves one o/ its branches1 that branch .ithers; i/ it leaves a
second1 that branch .ithers; i/ it leaves a third1 that branch .ithers# $/ it leaves the .hole
tree1 the .hole tree .ithers# $n e3actly the sa-e -anner1 -y son1 2no. this#@ Th0s he
spo2e5
@This !body" indeed .ithers and dies .hen the living Sel/ has le/t it; the living Sel/ dies
not# That .hich is that s0btile essence1 in it all that e3ists has its sel/# $t is the Tr0e# $t is
the Sel/1 and tho01 4 Sveta2et01 art it#@
@lease1 Sir1 in/or- -e still -ore1@ said the son# @%e it so1 -y child1@ the /ather replied#
@Fetch -e /ro- thence a /r0it o/ the &yagrodha tree#@ @Aere is one1 Sir#@ @%rea2 it#@ @$t is
bro2en1 Sir#@ @:hat do yo0 see there;@ @These seeds1 al-ost in/initesi-al#@ @%rea2 one o/
the-#@ @$t is bro2en1 Sir#@ @:hat do yo0 see there;@ @&ot anything1 Sir#@
The /ather said5 @7y son1 that s0btile essence .hich yo0 do not perceive there1 o/ that
very essence this great &yagrodha tree e3ists# %elieve it1 -y son# That .hich is the
s0btile essence1 in it all that e3ists has its sel/# $t is the Tr0e# $t is the Sel/1 and tho01 4
Sveta2et01 art it#@ @lease1 Sir1 in/or- -e still -ore1@ said the son# @%e it so1 -y child1@ the
/ather replied#
@lace this salt in .ater1 and then .ait on -e in the -orning#@ The son did as he .as
co--anded# The /ather said to hi-5 @%ring -e the salt1 .hich yo0 placed in the .ater last
night#@ The son having loo2ed /or it1 /o0nd it not1 /or1 o/ co0rse1 it .as -elted# The /ather
said5 @Taste it /ro- the s0r/ace o/ the .ater# Ao. is it;@ The son replied5 @$t is salt#@ @Taste
it /ro- the -iddle# Ao. is it;@ The son replied5 @$t is salt#@ @Taste it /ro- the botto-# Ao. is
it;@ The son replied5 @$t is salt#@ The /ather said5 @Thro. it a.ay and then .ait on -e#@ Ae
did so; b0t salt e3ists /or ever# Then the /ather said5 @Aere also1 in this body1 /orsooth1 yo0
do not perceive the Tr0e !Sat"1 -y son; b0t there indeed it is#
@That .hich is the s0btile essence Lthat is1 the saltiness o/ the saltM1 in it all that e3ists has
its sel/# $t is the Tr0e# $t is the Sel/1 and tho01 4 Sveta2et01 art it#@ @lease1 Sir1 in/or- -e
still -ore1@ said the son# @%e it so1 -y child1@ the /ather replied# ? C1 1)'13 !7a3 70ller
trans#"
9et 0s t0rn to another part o/ this Upanishad1 to the eighth lect0re# ,nd .e read as /ollo.s5
@Aarih1 4-#@ Aari is the na-e o/ several deities ? o/ Siva and Fishn0 ? b0t here1 apparently1
it is 0sed /or Siva1 .hich is pree-inently the divine protector o/ the -ystic occ0ltist# 4- is a
.ord considered very holy in the %rah-anical literat0re# $t is a syllable o/ invocation1 and its
general 0sage ? as el0cidated in the literat0re treating o/ it1 .hich is rather vol0-ino0s /or
this .ord 4- has attained to al-ost divinity ? is that it sho0ld never be 0ttered alo0d1 or in
the presence o/ an o0tsider1 a /oreigner1 or a non'initiate1 b0t it sho0ld be 0ttered in the
silence o/ one8s heart# :e also have reason to believe1 ho.ever1 that it .as 0ttered1 and
0ttered alo0d in a -onotone by the disciples in the presence o/ their teacher# This .ord is
al.ays placed at the beginning o/ any script0re that is considered o/ 0n0s0al sanctity#
The teaching is1 that prolonging the 0ttering o/ this .ord1 both o/ the - and the M1 .ith the
-o0th closed1 it reechoes in and aro0ses vibration in the s20ll1 and a//ects1 i" the a!%iration!
6e %ure1 the di//erent nervo0s centers o/ the body /or great good#
The %rah-anas say that it is an 0nholy thing to 0tter this .ord in any place .hich is 0nholy# $
no. read5
There is this city o/ %rah-an Lthat is1 the heart and the bodyM1 and in it the palace1 the
s-all lot0s !o/ the heart"1 and in it that s-all ether#
The Sans2rit .ord .hich 70ller1 the translator1 has not given here /or @s-all ether1@ do0btless
beca0se he 2ne. not ho. to translate it1 is antara2a!a/ a co-po0nd Sans2rit .ord -eaning
@.ithin the a2a!a+@ $ read again5
&o. .hat e3ists .ithin that s-all ether1 that is to be so0ght /or1 that is to be 0nderstood#
,nd i/ they sho0ld say to hi-5 @&o. .ith regard to that city o/ %rah-an1 and the palace in
it1 i#e# the s-all lot0s o/ the heart1 and the s-all ether .ithin the heart1 .hat is there .ithin
it that deserves to be so0ght /or1 or that is to be 0nderstood;@
Then he sho0ld say5 @,s large as this ether !all space" is1 so large is that ether .ithin the
heart# %oth heaven and earth are contained .ithin it1 both /ire and air1 both s0n and -oon1
both lightning and stars; and .hatever there is o/ hi- !the Sel/" here in the .orld1 and
.hatever is not !i#e# .hatever has been or .ill be"1 all that is contained .ithin it#@
,nd i/ they sho0ld say to hi-5 @$/ everything that e3ists is contained in that city o/
%rah-an1 all beings and all desires !.hatever can be i-agined or desired"1 then .hat is
le/t o/ it1 .hen old age reaches it and scatters it1 or .hen it /alls to pieces;@
Then he sho0ld say5 @%y the old age o/ the body1 that !the ether1 or %rah-an .ithin it"
does not age; by the death o/ the body1 that !the ether1 or %rah-an .ithin it" is not 2illed#
That !the %rah-an" is the tr0e %rah-a'city !not the body"# $n it all Ltr0eM desires are
contained# $t is the Sel/1 /ree /ro- sin1 /ree /ro- old age1 /ro- death and grie/1 /ro- h0nger
and thirst1 .hich desires nothing b0t .hat it o0ght to desire1 and i-agines nothing b0t
.hat it o0ght to i-agine# &o. as here on earth people /ollo. as they are co--anded1
and depend on the ob>ect .hich they are attached to1 be it a co0ntry or a piece o/ land1
@,nd as here on earth1 .hatever has been acI0ired by e3ertion1 perishes1 so perishes
.hatever is acI0ired /or the ne3t .orld by sacri/ices and other good actions per/or-ed on
earth# Those .ho depart /ro- hence .itho0t having discovered the Sel/ and those tr0e
desires1 /or the- there is no /reedo- in all the .orlds# %0t those .ho depart /ro- hence1
a/ter having discovered the Sel/ and those tr0e desires1 /or the- there is /reedo- in all
the .orlds#@ ? $bid#1 +1 1
hapter Three
The =octrine o/ 7aya; 4b>ective $dealis- the %asis o/ 7orals5 Rooted in the
Spirit0al Unity ! the "ivinity ! o# the All. The $el# and the %$elves.%
7aya or ill0sion is an ele-ent .hich enters into all /inite things1 /or everything that e3ists
has only a relative1 not an absol0te1 reality1 since the appearance .hich the hidden
no0-enon ass0-es /or any observer depends 0pon his po.er o/ cognition# To the
0ntrained eye o/ the savage1 a painting is at /irst an 0n-eaning con/0sion o/ strea2s and
da0bs o/ colo0r1 .hile an ed0cated eye sees instantly a /ace or a landscape# &othing is
per-anent e3cept the one hidden absol0te e3istence .hich contains in itsel/ the no0-ena
o/ all realities# The e3istences belonging to every plane o/ being1 0p to the highest =hyan'
6hohans1 are1 in degree1 o/ the nat0re o/ shado.s cast by a -agic lantern on a colo0rless
screen; b0t all things are relatively real1 /or the cogniser is also a re/lection1 and the things
cognised are there/ore as real to hi- as hi-sel/# :hatever reality things possess -0st be
loo2ed /or in the- be/ore or a/ter they have passed li2e a /lash thro0gh the -aterial .orld;
b0t .e cannot cognise any s0ch e3istence directly1 so long as .e have sense'instr0-ents
.hich bring only -aterial e3istence into the /ield o/ o0r conscio0sness# :hatever plane
o0r conscio0sness -ay be acting in1 both .e and the things belonging to that plane are1
/or the ti-e being1 o0r only realities# ,s .e rise in the scale o/ develop-ent .e perceive
that d0ring the stages thro0gh .hich .e have passed .e -istoo2 shado.s /or realities1
and the 0p.ard progress o/ the Ego is a series o/ progressive a.a2enings1 each advance
bringing .ith it the idea that no.1 at last1 .e have reached @reality@; b0t only .hen .e
shall have reached the absol0te 6onscio0sness1 and blended o0r o.n .ith it1 shall .e be
/ree /ro- the del0sions prod0ced by 7aya# ? The Secret Doctrine1 $1 39'*)
The Universe is called1 .ith everything in it1 7,N,1 beca0se all is te-porary therein1 /ro-
the ephe-eral li/e o/ a /ire'/ly to that o/ the S0n# 6o-pared to the eternal i--0tability o/
the 4&E1 and the changelessness o/ that rinciple1 the Universe1 .ith its evanescent
ever'changing /or-s1 -0st be necessarily1 in the -ind o/ a philosopher1 no better than a
.ill'o8'the'.isp# Net1 the Universe is real eno0gh to the conscio0s beings in it1 .hich are
as 0nreal as it is itsel/# ? $bid#1 $1 27*
$& T,<$&B 0p again o0r st0dy o/ The Secret Doctrine at the point .e reached a /ortnight
ago1 $ open the /irst vol0-e at page 171 and read the third /0nda-ental post0late ? at least a
portion o/ it5
The /0nda-ental identity o/ all So0ls .ith the Universal 4ver'So0l1 the latter being itsel/
an aspect o/ the Un2no.n Root; and the obligatory pilgri-age /or every So0l ? a spar2 o/
the /or-er ? thro0gh the 6ycle o/ $ncarnation !or @&ecessity@" in accordance .ith 6yclic
and <ar-ic la.1 d0ring the .hole ter-# $n other .ords1 no p0rely spirit0al %0ddhi !divine
So0l" can have an independent !conscio0s" e3istence be/ore the spar2 .hich iss0ed /ro-
the p0re Essence o/ the Universal Si3th principle1 ? or the over'so0l1 ? has !a" passed
thro0gh every ele-ental /or- o/ the pheno-enal .orld o/ that 7anvantara1 and !b"
acI0ired individ0ality1 /irst by nat0ral i-p0lse1 and then by sel/'ind0ced and sel/'devised
e//orts !chec2ed by its <ar-a"1 th0s ascending thro0gh all the degrees o/ intelligence1
/ro- the lo.est to the highest 7anas1 /ro- -ineral and plant1 0p to the holiest archangel
!=hyani'%0ddha"#
a0l1 the ,postle o/ the 6hristians @to the Bentiles1@ as they call hi-1 according to the
6hristian Bospels in ,cts 171 verses 23'2+1 spo2e to an asse-bly o/ the ,thenians on -ars
Aill1 co--only called the ,reopag0s1 and he said the /ollo.ing !the translation being o0rs"5
For as $ passed by and beheld yo0r devotions1 $ /o0nd an altar .ith this inscription5 @To
the Un2no.able Bod#@ # # # For in $t .e live and -ove and have o0r being1 as certain also
o/ yo0r o.n poets have said1 @For .e are also o/ $ts line#@
The poets o/ .ho- a0l spea2s .ere probably 6leanthes the Stoic1 and ,rat0s# $t is perhaps
.ell to -ention that the sense o/ @0n2no.able1@ as 0sed in connection .ith this
.ord agno!to!1 is that e-ployed by Ao-er1 by lato1 and by ,ristotle# This Bree2
.ord agno!to! also per-its the translation @0n2no.n1@ b0t -erely beca0se the Un2no.n in
this connection is the Un2no.able#
The ,thenians had raised an altar to the $ne//able1 and .ith the tr0e spirit o/ religio0s
devotion they le/t it .itho0t /0rther I0ali/ication; and a0l1 passing by and seeing it1 tho0ght
he sa. an e3cellent chance to @-a2e hay .hile the s0n shone1@ and clai-ed the
Un2no.able1 to .hich this altar had been raised1 as the Ee.ish Bod1 Eehovah#
, /ortnight ago .e stated ho. it .as that -an co0ld /or- so-e conception o/ that ine//able
rinciple o/ .hich A# # %lavats2y spea2s as being the /irst o/ the three /0nda-ental
post0lates necessary in order to 0nderstand the tr0e teachings o/ the esoteric .isdo-; and
.e sa. that -an has in hi-sel/ a /ac0lty transcending the ordinary h0-an intellect0al po.er
? so-ething in hi- by .hich he can raise hi-sel/ 0p.ards or1 perhaps
better1 inward!/ to.ards the in-ost center o/ his o.n being1 .hich in very tr0th i! that
$ne//able5 /ro- $t .e ca-e1 bac2 to $t .e are >o0rneying thro0gh the aeons o/ ti-e#
,ll the ancient philosophers ta0ght the tr0th concerning this sa-e /0nda-ental principle1
each in his o.n .ay1 each .ith di//erent ter-s1 each in the lang0age o/ the co0ntry .here it
.as pro-0lgated1 b0t al.ays there .as ta0ght the central tr0th5 that in the in-ost being o/
-an there lives a divinity1 and this divinity is the o//spring o/ the Aighest1 and that -an can
beco-e a god in the /lesh1 or he can sin2 lo.er even than the co--on average o/ h0-anity
so that he beco-es at /irst obsessed or beset1 and /inally possessed by the dae-ons o/ his
o.n lo.er nat0re and by those o/ the lo.er sphere; and by these partic0lar dae-ons .e
-ean the ele-ental /orces o/ li/e1 o/ chaotic li/e1 or o/ the -aterial sphere o/ being#
,gain1 ho. is it that -an cannot see these tr0ths inti-ately and i--ediately; :e all 2no.
the ans.er is1 on acco0nt o/ the ill0sion 0nder .hich his -ind labors1 the ill0sion .hich is a
part o/ hi-sel/1 not cast 0pon hi- /ro- the o0tside5 he !ee!1 /or instance1 and his -ind reacts
to the vision1 and the reaction is cond0cted along the lines o/ the ill0sion .hich1 ta2ing the
ancient Sans2rit .ord1 is called -aya#
This is a technical ter- in the ancient %rah-anical philosophy# 9et 0s e3a-ine its root# :hat
does the .ord a&a co-e /ro-; $t co-es /ro- a Sans2rit root a1 -eaning @to -eas0re1@
and by a /ig0re o/ speech it co-es to -ean to e//ect1 or to /or-1 and hence to li-it# There is
an English .ord ete1 -eaning @to -eas0re o0t1@ /ro- the sa-e $ndo'E0ropean root# $t is
/o0nd in the ,nglo'Sa3on as the root et1 in the Bree2 as ed1 and in the 9atin also in the
sa-e /or-#
&o. -aya1 as a technical ter-1 has co-e to -ean ? ages ago in the %rah-anical philosophy
it .as 0nderstood very di//erently /ro- .hat it is no. 0s0ally 0nderstood to be ? the
/abrication by -an8s -ind o/ ideas derived /ro- interior and e3terior i-pressions1 and hence
the illu!or&aspect o/ -an8s tho0ghts as he considers and tries to interpret and 0nderstand li/e
and his s0rro0ndings ? and thence .as derived the sense .hich it technically bears1 ill0sion#
$t does not -ean that the e3terior .orld is none3istent; i/ it .ere1 it obvio0sly co0ld not be
ill0sory; it e@i!t!/ b0t i!not# $t is @-eas0red o0t@ or it stands o0t to the h0-an spirit as a
-irage# $n other .ords1 .e do not see clearly and plainly and in their reality the vision and the
visions .hich o0r -ind and senses present to the inner li/e and eye#
The /a-iliar ill0strations o/ -aya in the Fedanta1 .hich is the highest /or- that the
%rah-anical teachings have ta2en and .hich is so near to o0r o.n teaching in -any
respects1 .ere s0ch as /ollo.s5 a -an at eventide sees a coiled rope on the gro0nd and
springs aside1 thin2ing it a serpent# The rope is there1 b0t no serpent#
,nother ill0stration is .hat is called the @horns o/ the hare#@ :hen a hare is seen at eventide
its long ears see- to pro>ect /ro- its head in s0ch /ashion that it appears even to the seeing
eye as being a creat0re .ith horns# The hare has no horns1 b0t there is then in the -ind an
ill0sory belie/ that an ani-al .ith horns e3ists there#
That is .hat -aya -eans5 not that a thing seen does not e3ist1 b0t that .e are blinded and
o0r -ind perverted by o0r o.n tho0ghts and o0r o.n i-per/ections1 and do not as yet arrive
at the real interpretation and -eaning o/ the .orld1 o/ the 0niverse aro0nd 0s# %y ascending
in.ardly1 by rising 0p1 by inner aspiration1 by an elevation o/ so0l1 .e can reach 0p.ards or
rather in.ards to.ard that plane .here tr0th abides in /0llness#
%ernard o/ 6lairva031 the French -ystic o/ the 7iddle ,ges1 said that one .ay o/ doing this1
and he spo2e tr0ly1 .as by @e-ptying the -ind1@ po0ring o0t the trashy st0// it contains1 the
ill0sory belie/s1 the /alse vie.s1 the hatreds1 s0spicions1 carelessness1 etc#1 and that by
e-ptying o0t all this trash1 the te-ple .ithin is cleansed1 and the light /ro- the god .ithin
strea-s /orth into the so0l ? a .onder/0l /ig0re o/ tho0ght#
$t -ay be as2ed5 .hat relationship has o0r philosophy to the -any so'called idealistic
syste-s o/ E0rope1 partic0larly in Ber-any1 and represented by %ishop %er2eley in %ritain;
The ans.er is that there are points o/ contact1 nat0rally1 beca0se the -en .ho evolved these
syste-s o/ philosophy .ere earnest -en1 and no -an can earnestly thin2 and strive 0p.ards
.itho0t arriving at so-e visions o/ tr0th1 so-e /aint perceptions o/ the inner li/e ? b0t none o/
these syste-s o/ idealis- is e3actly the idealis- o/ theosophy# Theosophy is not an absol0te
idealis-; it does not teach that the e3ternal 0niverse is a6!olutel& none3istent and that all
e3ternal pheno-ena -erely e3ist in the -ind#
Theosophy is not e3actly either the idealis- o/ <ant nor the .onder/0l pessi-istic idealis- o/
Schopenha0er ? .onder/0l as this great thin2er .as1 and .onder/0l precisely beca0se he
derived his 2no.ledge !and con/essed it openly" /ro- the 4rient# The idealis- o/ theosophy
is nearest to the philosophy o/ the Ber-an philosopher von Schelling1 .ho ta0ght
!principally" that tr0th .as to be perceived by receding in.ards and ta2ing it /ro- the spirit1
and that the o0t.ard .orld is @dead -ind@ or perhaps rather inert -ind ? not the -ind o/ the
thin2er obvio0sly1 b0t the -ind o/ the =eity# &o. this is called ob>ective idealis- beca0se it
recogniDes the e3ternal ob>ect as having e3istence5 it is not none3istent1 as absol0te idealis-
.o0ld p0t it#
A# # %lavats2y says on page C31 o/ the /irst vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine5
Esoteric philosophy1 teaching an o6Aecti4e $dealis- ? tho0gh it regards the ob>ective
Universe and all in it as Ma&a1 te-porary ill0sion ? dra.s a practical distinction bet.een
collective ill0sion1Mahaa&a/ /ro- the p0rely -etaphysical stand'point1 and the ob>ective
relations in it bet.een vario0s conscio0s #go! so long as this ill0sion lasts#
The teaching is that -aya is th0s called /ro- the action o/ 70lapra2riti1 or @root'nat0re1@ the
coordinate principle o/ that other line o/ coactive conscio0sness .hich .e call arabrah-an#
:e re-e-ber that /ro- the -o-ent .hen -ani/estation begins1 it acts d0alistically1 that is to
say1 that everything in nat0re /ro- that point on.ards is crossed by pairs o/ opposites1 s0ch
as long and short1 high and lo.1 night and day1 good and evil1 conscio0sness and
nonconscio0sness1 etc#1 and that all these things are essentially -agic or ill0sory ? real .hile
they last1 b0t the lasting is not eternal# $t is thro0gh and by these pairs o/ opposites that the
sel/'conscio0s so0l learns tr0th#
:hat is the basis o/ -orals; This is the -ost i-portant I0estion that can be as2ed o/ any
syste- o/ tho0ght# $s -orality based on the dicta o/ -an; $s -orality based on the conviction
in -ost -en8s hearts that /or h0-an sa/ety it is necessary to have certain abstract r0les
.hich it is -erelycon4enient to /ollo.; ,re .e -ere opport0nists; or is -orality1 ethics1
based on tr0th1 .hich it is not -erely e3pedient /or -an to /ollo.1 b0t need/0l; S0rely 0pon
the latter#
,nd in the third /0nda-ental post0late .hich .e read at the opening o/ o0r st0dy this
evening1 .e /ind the very ele-ents1 the very /0nda-entals1 o/ a syste- o/ -orality greater
than .hich1 pro/o0nder than .hich1 -ore pers0asive than .hich1 perhaps1 it .o0ld be
i-possible to i-agine anything#
4n .hat1 then1 is -orality based; ,nd by -orality $ -ean not -erely the opinion .hich so-e
pse0dophilosophers have1 that -orality is -ore or less that .hich is good /or the co--0nity1
based on the -ere -eaning o/ the 9atin .ord ore!1 good c0sto-s as opposed to bad# &o;
-orality is that instinctive h0nger o/ the h0-an heart to do righteo0sness1 to do good to every
-an beca0se it is good and satis/ying and ennobling to do so#
:hen -an realiDes that he is one .ith all that is1 in.ards and o0t.ards1 high and lo.; that he
is one .ith the-1 not -erely as -e-bers o/ a co--0nity are one1 not -erely as individ0als
o/ an ar-y are one1 b0t li2e the -olec0les o/ o0r o.n /lesh1 li2e the ato-s o/ the -olec0le1
li2e the electrons o/ the ato-1 co-posing one 0nity ? not a -ere 0nion b0t a spirit0al unit& ?
then he sees tr0th#
Every one o/ 0s belongs to1 and is an inhering part o/1 that s0bli-e and ine//able 7ystery ?
the ,99 ? .hich contains and is individ0al and spirit0al 0nity#
:e have all o/ 0s one in.ard 0niversal sel/1 and each one has also his individ0al ego# The
ego springs /ro- the sel/ and the sel/ is the $ne//able1 the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost1 one in all o/
0s ? giving each one o/ 0s that sense o/ sel/hood; altho0gh by e3tension o/ -eaning .e also
spea21 and properly spea21 o/ the lo.er sel/1 beca0se this is a tiny ray /ro- the Aighest# Even
the evil -an has in hi-sel/ not -erely the spar2 o/ the divine1 b0t the very ray o/ divinity itsel/5
he is both the sel/ish ego and the 0niversal sel/#
:hy then are .e ta0ght that .hen .e attain sel/lessness1 .e attain the divine; recisely
beca0se sel/lessness is the attrib0te o/ the ara-at-an1 the 0niversal sel/1 .here all
personality vanishes# $araatan is a Sans2rit co-po0nd -eaning @highest@ or @s0pre-e
sel/#@
$/ .e e3a-ine o0r o.n spirits1 i/ .e reach in.ards1 i/ .e stretch o0rselves in.ards1 as it .ere1
to.ards the $n-ost1 every one o/ 0s -ay 2no. that as he goes /arther1 /arther1 /arther in1 the
sel/ beco-es sel/less1 the light beco-es p0re glory#
:hat a tho0ght1 that in the heart o/ each one o/ 0s there d.ells1 there lives1 the ever'
0n/olding1 the constant1 the eternal1 the changeless1 2no.ing no death1 2no.ing no sorro.1
the very divinity o/ allK Ao. it digni/ies h0-an li/eK :hat co0rage does it give to 0sK Ao. does
it clear a.ay all o/ the old -oldy s0perstitionsK :hat 0nspea2able visions o/ reality1 o/ the
tr0th1 do .e obtain .hen .e go in.ards1 a/ter having e-ptied the -ind1 as %ernard says1 o/
all the -ental trash that enc0-bers itK
:hen -an has reached the state .here he realiDes this and has so e-ptied his -ind that it
is /illed only .ith the sel/ itsel/1 .ith the sel/less sel/hood o/ the Eternal ? .hat did the
ancients call this state; :hat did they call s0ch a -an hi-sel/; They called the
state1 6odhi8 and they called the h0-an16uddha; and the organ in and by .hich it .as
-ani/ested1 6uddhi# ,ll these .ords ca-e /ro- a Sans2rit root -eaning @to a.a2en#@ :hen
-an has a.a2ened /ro- the living death in .hich .e live1 .hen he has cast o// the toils o/
-ind and /lesh and1 to 0se the old 6hristian ter-1 has p0t on the @gar-ents o/ eternity1@ then
he has a.a2ened1 he is a b0ddha# ,nd the ancient %rah-anical teachings1 /o0nd today even
in the Fedanta1 state that he has beco-e one .ith ? not @absorbed1@ as is constantly
translated ? b0t has 6ecoe one .ith the sel/ o/ selves1 .ith the ara-at-an1 the s0pre-e
sel/#
T0rning again to the *hhandog&a 3%ani!had/ one o/ the -ost i-portant o/ the 1)+ or -ore
Upanishads ? the very .ord u%ani!had signi/ies esoteric treatise ? .e read /ro- the eighth
lect0re1 seventh1 eighth1 and ninth sections5
ra>apati said ?
:e interr0pt by saying that %raAa%ati is a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @governor@ or @lord@ or
@-aster o/ progeny#@ The .ord is applied to -any o/ the Fedic gods1 b0t in partic0lar to
%rah-a ? that is to say1 the third step /ro- arabrah-an ? the evolver'creator1 the /irst and
-ost recondite /ig0re o/ the triad consisting o/ %rah-a1 Fishn01 and Siva# %rah-a is the
e-anator or evolver1 Fishn0 the s0stainer or preserver1 and Siva1 .hich -ay be translated
e0phe-istically perhaps as @bene/icent1@ the regenerator# This na-e is very obsc0re#
Ao.ever5
ra>apati said5 @The Sel/ .hich is /ree /ro- sin1 /ree /ro- old age1 /ro- death and grie/1
/ro- h0nger and thirst1 .hich desires nothing b0t .hat it o0ght to desire1 and i-agines
nothing b0t .hat it o0ght to i-agine1 that it is .hich .e -0st search o0t1 that it is .hich
.e -0st try to 0nderstand# Ae .ho has searched o0t that Sel/ and 0nderstands it1 obtains
all .orlds and all desires#@
:e interr0pt to as2 .hy; %eca0se this sel/ o/ selves1 this $n-ost1 is all .orlds5 it is all1 it is
everything# &o. to I0ote5
The =evas !gods" and ,s0ras !de-ons" both heard these .ords1 and said5 @:ell1 let 0s
search /or that Sel/ by .hich1 i/ one has searched it o0t1 all .orlds and all desires are
obtained#@
Th0s saying $ndra .ent /ro- the =evas1 Firochana /ro- the ,s0ras1 and both1 .itho0t
having co--0nicated .ith each other1 approached ra>apati1 holding /0el in their hands1
as is the c0sto- /or p0pils approaching their -aster#
They d.elt there as p0pils /or thirty't.o years# Then ra>apati as2ed the-5 @For .hat
p0rpose have yo0 d.elt here;@
They replied5 @, saying o/ yo0rs is being repeated1 viD# 8the Sel/ .hich is /ree /ro- sin1
/ree /ro- old age1 /ro- death and grie/1 /ro- h0nger and thirst1 .hich desires nothing b0t
.hat it o0ght to desire1 and i-agines nothing b0t .hat it o0ght to i-agine1 that it is .hich
.e -0st search o0t1 that it is .hich .e -0st try to 0nderstand# Ae .ho has searched o0t
that Sel/ and 0nderstands it1 obtains all .orlds and all desires#8 &o. .e both have d.elt
here beca0se .e .ish /or that Sel/#@
ra>apati said to the-5 @The person that is seen in the eye1 that is the Sel/# This is .hat $
have said# This is the i--ortal1 the /earless1 this is %rah-an#@
$nterr0pting5 the sel/ that is seen in the eye is a /ig0re o/ speech not in/reI0ently /o0nd in the
ancient Sans2rit .ritings; it signi/ies that sense o/ an ind.elling presence that one sees .hen
he loo2s into the eyes o/ another#
They as2ed5 @Sir1 he .ho is perceived in the .ater1 and he .ho is perceived in a -irror1
.ho is he;@
Ae replied5 @Ae hi-sel/ indeed is seen in all these#@
LEighth SectionM @9oo2 at yo0r Sel/ in a pan o/ .ater1 and .hatever yo0 do not 0nderstand
o/ yo0r Sel/1 co-e and tell -e#@
They loo2ed in the .ater'pan# Then ra>apati said to the-5 @:hat do yo0 see;@
They said5 @:e both see the sel/ th0s altogether1 a pict0re even to the very hairs and
nails#@
ra>apati said to the-5 @,/ter yo0 have adorned yo0rselves1 # # # loo2 again into the .ater'
pan#@
They1 a/ter having adorned the-selves1 having p0t on their best clothes and cleaned
the-selves1 loo2ed into the .ater'pan#
ra>apati said5 @:hat do yo0 see;@
They said5 @E0st as .e are1 .ell adorned1 .ith o0r best clothes and clean1 th0s .e are
both there1 Sir1 .ell adorned1 .ith o0r best clothes and clean#@
ra>apati said5 @That is the Sel/1 this is the i--ortal1 the /earless1 this is %rah-an#@
Then both .ent a.ay satis/ied in their hearts#
,nd ra>apati1 loo2ing a/ter the-1 said5 @They both go a.ay .itho0t having perceived and
.itho0t having 2no.n the Sel/1 and .hoever o/ these t.o1 .hether =evas or ,s0ras1 .ill
/ollo. this doctrine .ill perish#@
$nterr0pting5 they sa. -aya and not the sel/#
&o. Firochana1 satis/ied in his heart1 .ent to the ,s0ras and preached that doctrine to
the-1 that the sel/ !the body" alone is to be .orshipped1 that the sel/ !the body" alone is to
be served1 and that he .ho .orships the sel/ and serves the sel/1 gains both .orlds1 this
and the ne3t#
There/ore they call even no. a -an .ho does not give al-s here1 .ho has no /aith1 and
o//ers no sacri/ices1 an ,s0ra1 /or this is the doctrine o/ ,s0ras# They dec2 o0t the body o/
the dead .ith per/0-es1 /lo.ers1 and /ine rai-ent by .ay o/ orna-ent1 and thin2 they .ill
th0s conI0er that .orld#
L&inth SectionM %0t $ndra1 be/ore he had ret0rned to the =evas1 sa. this di//ic0lty#
$nterr0pting5 the di//ic0lty no. co-es .hich $ndra sa.#
,s this sel/ !the shado. in the .ater" is .ell adorned1 .hen the body is .ell adorned1 .ell
dressed1 .hen the body is .ell dressed1 .ell cleaned1 i/ the body is .ell cleaned1 that sel/
.ill also be blind1 i/ the body is blind1 la-e1 i/ the body is la-e1 crippled1 i/ the body is
crippled1 and .ill perish in /act as soon as the body perishes# There/ore $ see no good in
this !doctrine"#
Ta2ing /0el in his hand he ca-e again as a p0pil to ra>apati# ra>apati said to hi-5
@7aghavat !$ndra"1 as yo0 .ent a.ay .ith Firochana1 satis/ied in yo0r heart1 /or .hat
p0rpose did yo0 co-e bac2;@
Ae said5 @Sir1 as this sel/ !the shado." is .ell adorned1 .hen the body is .ell adorned1
.ell dressed1 .hen the body is .ell dressed1 .ell cleaned1 i/ the body is .ell cleaned1 that
sel/ .ill also be blind1 i/ the body is blind1 la-e1 i/ the body is la-e1 crippled1 i/ the body is
crippled1 and .ill perish in /act as soon as the body perishes# There/ore $ see no good in
this !doctrine"#@
@So it is indeed1 7aghavat1@ replied ra>apati; @b0t $ shall e3plain hi- !the tr0e Sel/" /0rther
to yo0# 9ive .ith -e another thirty't.o years#@
$ndra .as able to see beyond the -aya o/ the personal sel/1 and there/ore .as searching /or
the real1 /or the tr0e1 the sel/ itsel/#
The translation is 7a3 70ller8s# $t -ay be .ell to add in concl0sion that all translations .hich
have been -ade and -ay herea/ter be -ade are -ade by o0rsel/1 /ro- any one o/ the
ancient lang0ages1 and i/ any I0otation is ta2en /ro- another translator1 his na-e .ill be
given#
hapter Four
Fro- ri-ordial oint to Universe and 7an# Ao. does 7ani/estation ,rise;
7anvantara and ralaya#
The Scintilla! are the @So0ls1@ and these So0ls appear in the three'/old /or- o/ 7onads
!0nits"1 ato-s and gods ? according to o0r teaching# @Every ato- beco-es a visible
co-ple3 0nit !a -olec0le"1 and once attracted into the sphere o/ terrestrial activity1 the
7onadic Essence1 passing thro0gh the -ineral1 vegetable1 and ani-al 2ingdo-s1
beco-es -an#@ !Esot# 6atechis-#" ,gain1 @Bod1 7onad1 and ,to- are the
correspondences o/ Spirit1 7ind1 and %ody !)ta/ Mana!/ and Sthula SariraB in -an#@ $n
their septenary aggregation they are the @Aeavenly 7an@ !see Ka6ala/or the latter ter-";
th0s1 terrestrial -an is the provisional re/lection o/ the Aeavenly# # # # @The 7onads !Ci4a!"
are the So0ls o/ the ,to-s1 both are the /abric in .hich the 6hohans !=hyanis1 god!"
cloth the-selves .hen a /or- is needed#@ !#!ot+ *at#" ? The Secret Doctrine1 $1 C19
arabrah- !the 4ne Reality1 the ,bsol0te" is the /ield o/ ,bsol0te 6onscio0sness1 i+e#1
that Essence .hich is o0t o/ all relation to conditioned e3istence1 and o/ .hich conscio0s
e3istence is a conditioned sy-bol# %0t once that .e pass in tho0ght /ro- this !to 0s"
,bsol0te &egation1 d0ality s0pervenes in the contrast o/ Spirit !or conscio0sness" and
7atter1 S0b>ect and 4b>ect#
Spirit !or conscio0sness" and 7atter are1 ho.ever1 to be regarded1 not as independent
realities1 b0t as the t.o /acets or aspects o/ the ,bsol0te !arabrah-"1 .hich constit0te
the basis o/ conditioned %eing .hether s0b>ective or ob>ective# # # #
Aence it .ill be apparent that the contrast o/ these t.o aspects o/ the ,bsol0te is
essential to the e3istence o/ the @7ani/ested Universe#@ ,part /ro- 6os-ic S0bstance1
6os-ic $deation co0ld not -ani/est as individ0al conscio0sness1 since it is only thro0gh a
vehicle o/ -atter that conscio0sness .ells 0p as @$ a- $1@ a physical basis being
necessary to /oc0s a ray o/ the Universal 7ind at a certain stage o/ co-ple3ity# ,gain1
apart /ro- 6os-ic $deation1 6os-ic S0bstance .o0ld re-ain an e-pty abstraction1 and
no e-ergence o/ conscio0sness co0ld ens0e#
The @7ani/ested Universe1@ there/ore1 is pervaded by d0ality1 .hich is1 as it .ere1 the very
essence o/ its EP'istence as @-ani/estation#@ %0t >0st as the opposite poles o/ s0b>ect and
ob>ect1 spirit and -atter1 are b0t aspects o/ the 4ne Unity in .hich they are synthesiDed1
so1 in the -ani/ested Universe1 there is @that@ .hich lin2s spirit to -atter1 s0b>ect to ob>ect#
This so-ething1 at present 0n2no.n to :estern spec0lation1 is called by the occ0ltists
Fohat# $t is the @bridge@ by .hich the @$deas@ e3isting in the @=ivine Tho0ght@ are
i-pressed on 6os-ic s0bstance as the @la.s o/ &at0re#@ ? $bid#1 1('1C
%EF4RE :E 4E& o0r st0dy this evening1 it sho0ld be said .ith re/erence to the nat0re o/
these st0dies1 that they are a si-pli/ication o/The Secret Doctrine in the sense o/ an
e3planation and 0n/olding o/ the -eaning o/ the teachings that the boo2 contains# $n order to
achieve these ends1 it .ill be o/ co0rse necessary to bring to bear 0pon these doctrines1 /or
co-parison and in order to sho. analogy or identity1 lines o/ tho0ght /ro- the great religions
o/ the .orld and /ro- the great -inds o/ ancient ti-es; beca0se these1 in their essence1 have
spr0ng /ro- the central so0rce o/ -an8s tho0ght and religion .hich .e today call theosophy#
Net be/ore .e can really e-bar2 0pon the st0dy o/ The Secret Doctrineitsel/1 as a boo21 it .ill
be necessary d0ring the co0rse o/ o0r st0dies to clear /ro- o0r path certain st0-bling bloc2s
.hich are in the .ay o/ each o/ 0s; certain ideas and so'called principles o/ tho0ght .hich
have been instilled into o0r -inds /ro- childhood1 and .hich1 on acco0nt o/ the psychological
e//ect they have on o0r -inds1 really prevent 0s /ro- grasping the tr0ths o/ being that A# #
%lavats2y has so -asterly given 0s#
$n addition1 it .ill be necessary to investigate certain very ancient principles o/ tho0ght1 and to
penetrate -ore deeply into the real -eaning o/ the ancient religions and philosophies than
has ever been done in any -odern boo2s1 beca0se those boo2s have been .ritten by -en
.ho 2no. nothing abo0t the esoteric philosophy1 -en .ho .ere -ostly rebels against the
barren ecclesiasticis- o/ the 6hristian 6h0rch; .ho1 in order to gain /reedo- /ro- those
chains o/ ecclesiasticis-1 act0ally .ent too /ar the other .ay1 and sa. nothing b0t priestcra/t
and evildoing in these old religions and in the acts and teachings o/ the -en .ho ta0ght
the-1 priests1 philosophers1 or scientists#
,nother point al.ays to 2eep in -ind is1 that .e are act0ally 0nderta2ing the st0dy o/ the very
doctrines .hich /or-ed the core o/ the heart o/ the teachings o/ the 7ysteries o/ ancient
days# These 7ysteries .ere divided into t.o general parts1 the 9esser 7ysteries and the
Breater#
The 9esser 7ysteries .ere very largely co-posed o/ dra-atic rites or cere-onies1 .ith
so-e teaching; the Breater 7ysteries .ere co-posed o/1 or cond0cted al-ost entirely on the
gro0nd o/1 st0dy1 and later .ere proved by personal e3perience in initiation# $n the latter .as
e3plained1 a-ong other things1 the secret -eaning o/ the -ythologies o/ the old religions1 as
/or instance the Bree2#
The active and ni-ble -ind o/ the Bree2s prod0ced a -ythology .hich /or grace and bea0ty
is perhaps .itho0t eI0al1 b0t it nevertheless is very di//ic0lt to e3plain; the 7ysteries o/
Sa-othrace and o/ Ele0sis ? the greater ones ? e3plained a-ong other things .hat these
-yths -eant# These -yths /or-ed the basis o/ the e@oteric religions; b0t note .ell that
e3otericis- does not -ean that the thing .hich is ta0ght e3oterically is in itsel/ /alse1 b0t
-erely that it is a teaching given .itho0t the 2ey to it# S0ch teaching is sy-bolic1 ill0sory1
to0ching on the tr0th5 the tr0th is there1 b0t .itho0t the 2ey to it ? .hich is the esoteric
-eaning ? it yields no proper sense#
:e no. read /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page *35
The Secret =octrine teaches the progressive develop-ent o/ everything1 .orlds as .ell
as ato-s; and this st0pendo0s develop-ent has neither conceivable beginning nor
i-aginable end# 40r @Universe@ is only one o/ an in/inite n0-ber o/ Universes1 all o/ the-
@Sons o/ &ecessity1@ beca0se lin2s in the great 6os-ic chain o/ Universes1 each one
standing in the relation o/ an e//ect as regards its predecessor1 and being a ca0se as
regards its s0ccessor#
The appearance and disappearance o/ the Universe are pict0red as an o0tbreathing and
inbreathing o/ @the Breat %reath1@ .hich is eternal1 and .hich1 being 7otion1 is one o/ the
three aspects o/ the ,bsol0te ? ,bstract Space and =0ration being the other t.o# :hen
@the Breat %reath@ is pro>ected1 it is called the =ivine %reath1 and is regarded as the
breathing o/ the Un2no.able =eity ? the 4ne E3istence ? .hich breathes o0t a tho0ght1
as it .ere1 .hich beco-es the <os-os# !See @$sis Unveiled#@" So also it is .hen the
=ivine %reath is inspired again the Universe disappears into the boso- o/ @the Breat
7other1@ .ho then sleeps1 @.rapped in her invisible robes#@
, /ortnight ago .e .ere st0dying the I0estion o/ -aya and the relationship o/ the inner being
o/ -an to the ine//able Essence; it re-ains /or 0s brie/ly to st0dy ho. -an1 .ho has
a %er!onal ele-ent in hi-1 sprang /orth /ro- the very essence o/ ipersonality1 i/ one -ay so
call it# :e can say at once that the $n/inite and $-personal ne4er 6ecoe! "inite and
%er!onal# Ao.1 then1 does the spirit o/ -an !already the /irst /il- over the /ace o/ the
,bsol0te1 as it .ere" co-e into being; 9et 0s re-e-ber that the -ani/estation o/ .orlds and1
ded0ctively1 o/ the beings .ho inhabit those .orlds1 too2 place in the e3tension o/ -atter
pop0larly called space# , center1 /irst1 is localiDed ? a very poor .ord to 0seK ? and is1 de
/acto1 not in/inite1 not eternal; i/ it .ere1 it co0ld neither -ani/est nor co-e into o0t.ard
e3istence1 /or this is li-itation# The Eternal1 the $ne//able1 the $n/inite1 does not ever -ani/est
at all1 either partially or in toto# :ords the-selves are -isleading in treating o/ these
s0b>ects; b0t .hat can .e say; :e -0st 0se h0-an e3pressions in order to convey o0r
-eaning#
Ao. then arose -ani/estation; The ancient .isdo- tells 0s the /ollo.ing5 in the seeds o/ li/e
re-aining in space /ro- a planet .hich had previo0sly r0n its -anvantara and had passed
into latency or pra2riti'pralaya1 there ca-e !.hen the ho0r str0c2 /or -ani/estation to begin
again" into being in these seeds o/ li/e the activity called in Sans2rit tri!hna !@thirst1@ i/ yo0
li2e1 desire /or -ani/estation"1 th0s /or-ing the center aro0nd .hich .as to gather a ne.
0niverse# $t had by 2ar-ic necessity its partic0lar place in space and .as to prod0ce its
partic0lar 2ind o/ progeny ? gods1 -onads1 ato-s1 -en1 and the three ele-entary1 or
ele-ental1 2ingdo-s o/ the .orld as .e see it aro0nd 0s ? /ro- the 2ar-ic seeds .hich .ere
bro0ght over and .hich .ere lying latent /ro- the preceding -anvantara#
The 0niverse rei-bodies itsel/ !it does not @reincarnate1@ .hich -eans co-ing into "le!h"1
/ollo.ing precisely the analogical lines that the so0l o/ -an does in reincarnating1 -a2ing the
necessary allo.ances /or varying conditions# ,s -an is the prod0ct o/ his /or-er li/e1 or
rather o/ his lives1 so is a 0niverse1 a solar syste-1 a planet1 an ani-al1 an ato- ? the very
great as .ell as the so'called in/initesi-al ? the /r0itage1 the /lo.er1 o/ .hat .ent be/ore#
Each o/ these bears its load o/ 2ar-a precisely as the so0l o/ -an does#
The teachings relating to the evolving o/ the inner planes o/ being1 .hich precede and
prod0ce the o0ter planes1 are very esoteric and belong to a st0dy higher than .e vent0re to
approach at the present ti-e1 b0t .e can /or- so-e general idea o/ ho. it is done1 by
analogy and by co-parison .ith the li/e o/ -an#
:hen -ani/estation begins1 .hat is called d0ality s0pervenes# $t .o0ld see- to be a
procession so-ething li2e this1 .ere .e to sy-boliDe it by a diagra-#
6onsider this 0pper-ost straight line a hypothetical plane5 it -ay be1 h0-anly spea2ing1
i--eas0rable -iles in depth or in e3tension1 b0t -ere e3tension has nothing to do .ith the
general concept# ,bove it stretches the in/init0de o/ the %o0ndless1 and belo. the diagra- is
the %o0ndless1 and in.ards thro0gh it is the %o0ndless1 interpenetrating every.here; b0t /or
p0rposes o/ o0r present ill0stration .e .ill say that it is above#
9et 0s place any.here .e -ay please a point ,1 another one ,81 and a third ,@# :e have
no. reached1 a/ter a long period o/ latency or pralaya has passed1 a period o/ -ani/estation
or -anvantara# S0ch a point as ,1 or ,8 or ,@1 .e .ill call the ri-ordial oint1 the /irst
brea2ing'thro0gh into the cos-ic plane belo.; the spirit'/orce above arising into activity in the
seeds o/ being and /orcing its .ay do.n into the lo.er li/e o/ -ani/estation ? not %u!hed or
o4ed 6& an&thing out!ide o" it!el" ? is driven into -ani/estation by the 2ar-ic li/e o/ its o.n
essential being1 by the thirst o/ desire or blosso-ing /orth1 li2e a /resh 0pspringing in early
s0--er o/ a /lo.er1 in .hich the tendency in -ani/estation is o0t.ard# This /irst appearance
is conceived o/ in philosophy as the /irst or ri-ordial oint; this is the na-e given to it in the
Ee.ish theosophy called the Gabbalah#
Fro- the -o-ent that the point1 the seed o/ li/e1 the ger- o/ being ? all these are b0t na-es
/or the one thing1 the spirit0al ato-1 the spirit0al -onad1 call it .hat yo0 .ill ? b0rsts thro0gh
into the lo.er li/e as it .ere1 di//erentiation or d0ality sets in and contin0es thence/or.ard to
the end o/ the Breat 6ycle1 /or-ing the t.o side lines o/ the diagra--atic triangle# :e -ay
call one ,%1 the %rah-a !-asc0line"1 and the other ,61 the ra2riti or nat0re !/e-inine"#
%rah-a is /reI0ently also called $uru!ha/ a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @-an1@ the $deal 7an1
li2e the Gabbalistic ,da- Gad-on1 the pri-ordial entity o/ space1 containing in ra2riti or
nat0re all the septenary scales o/ -ani/ested being#
,t all ti-es1 /ro- the very /irst instant .hen d0ality sets in1 there is an 0nceasing attraction
bet.een these t.o lines or poles1 and they >oin# Re-e-ber that this sy-bol is -erely a
paradig- or representation# ,bsol0tely1 it .o0ld be abs0rd to say that li/e and beings
proceed into -ani/estation as geo-etric triangles only; b0t .e can represent it!&6olicall& to
o0r -inds in this /ashion# :hen these t.o >oin1 the Father and the 7other1 spirit !or reality"
and ill0sion !or -aya"1 %rah-a !or 0r0sha" and ra2riti !or nat0re"1 their 0nion prod0ces the
Son# $n the 6hristian sche-e they give the spirit0al or pri-ordial Son the na-e o/ 6hristos; in
the Egyptian sche-e 4siris and $sis !or her t.in sister &ephthys1 .hich is -erely the -ore
recondite side o/ $sis" prod0ce their son Aor0s1 the spirit0al s0n1 physically the s0n or the
light'bringer; and so si-ilarly in the di//erent sche-es that the ancient .orld has handed
do.n to 0s#
Fro- the interaction o/ these three1 by interpolar action1 by the spirit0al /orces .or2ing in and
o0t1 t.o other lines /all do.n.ards ? according to the -ystical .ay in .hich this sche-e o/
e-anation is ta0ght ? and they also >oin and /or- the sI0are1 or the -ani/ested 2os-os#
&o. /ro- the central or ri-ordial oint is born or proceeds the s0n o/ li/e# %y it and thro0gh
it is o0r 0nion .ith the $ne//able# 7an -ay be do.n here a physical being on earth1 or
any.here else a l0-ino0s1 ethereal entity1 b0t it -atters not .here he is or .hat his body5 /or
once the !e4enprinciples o/ his being are in action1 -an the thin2ing entity is prod0ced1 lin2ed
by his seventh principle1 and his si3th1 .ith that s0n o/ li/e#
To every @-an@ o/ the 0nna-eable -0ltit0des o/ sel/'conscio0s beings belonging to this
2os-os or 0niverse1 there e3tend respectively 0p.ards or do.n.ards t.o nat0res5 one o/
.hich is a ray o/ spirit connecting hi- .ith the divine o/ the divinest1 and /ro- that e3tending
0p.ards in all directions and lin2ing hi- in every sense o/ the .ord .ith the $ne//able1 the
%o0ndless1 .hich is1 there/ore1 the core o/ his being1 the center o/ his essence#
The appearance and evol0tion o/ -an as a h0-an being on this planet Terra /ollo. the sa-e
line o/ nat0re8s .onder/0l analogical .or2ing that a planet does in space1 or a s0n does .ith
its brothers o/ a solar syste-1 the planets# 7an1 th0s being in very tr0th a child o/ $n/inity1 the
o//spring o/ the $ne//able1 has latent .ithin hi-sel/ the capacity o/ the 0niverse#
,nd on this /act depends .hat .e have so o/ten been told o/ the getting o/ po.ers# The very
-ethod by .hich .e do not get the-1 the very .ay o/ -issing and losing the-1 is to r0n a/ter
the-1 strange as it -ay so0nd1 beca0se this is the i-p0lse o/ vanity and sel/ishness# $/ .e1
then1 sel/ishly see2 the-1 .hat do .e get; :e get the action o/ the lo.er po.ers 0pon 0s; it
is a gro.ing thirst /or sensation .hich .e do get1 and this leads 0s to.ards and into the
nether abyss o/ 7atter1 the opposite pole o/ the %o0ndless1 i/ it is /ollo.ed#
%0t in the great so0l .ho has passed by and thro.n o// this thirst /or personal acI0isition1 in
.ho- the grasping spirit /or sel/ is no longer do-inant1 .ho /eels his oneness .ith everything
that is1 .ho /eels that every h0-an being1 yea the very pis-ire that laborio0sly cra.ls 0p a
sand'2nob only to t0-ble do.n again1 is hi!el" ? no -etaphor b0t an act0ality5 a di//erent
body1 b0t the sa-e li/e1 the sa-e essence1 the sa-e things latent in it as in hi- ? in hi-
indeed lies the po.er o/ ascending the ladder o/ being1 dra.n by the lin2 .ith the Aighest in
his inner-ost nat0re# Ae and they are both /illed /0ll o/ latent po.ers and /orces1 and he and
they -ay beco-e in ti-e very gods1 blaDing1 as it .ere1 .ith po.er li2e the s0n; and the only
.ay is 0tter sel/lessness1 beca0se sel/lessness1 parado3ical as it -ay so0nd1 is the only .ay
to the sel/1 the sel/ 0niversal# The personal sel/ sh0ts the door be/ore 0s#
4/ co0rse .e cannot cr0sh o0t o/ o0r being the sense o/ sel/hood1 nor is that desirable; b0t in
the lo.est aspect it ta2es 0pon itsel/ the /or-s o/ all sel/ishness1 0ntil the being o/ the -an
.ho /ollo.s the le/t'hand path1 or the path do.n.ards1 ends in .hat the early 6hristians ?
stealing /ro- the Bree2s ? called Tartar0s1 the place o/ disintegration#
:hen -an ascends beyond the reach o/ -atter1 he has cast o// the bondage o/ -aya1 or
ill0sion# 9et 0s re-e-ber that .hen -ani/estation opens1 ra2riti beco-es or rather is -aya;
and %rah-a1 the Father1 is the spirit o/ the conscio0sness1 or the individ0ality# These t.o are
really one1 yet they are also the t.o aspects o/ the one li/e'ray acting and reacting 0pon itsel/1
-0ch as a -an hi-sel/ can say1 @$ a- 0#@ Ae has the /ac0lty o/ sel/'analysis1 or sel/'division;
all o/ 0s 2no. it1 .e can /eel it in o0rselves# 4ne side o/ 0s1 in o0r tho0ghts1 can be called the
ra2riti or the -aterial ele-ent1 or the -ayavi ele-ent1 or the ele-ent o/ ill0sion; and the
other1 the spirit1 the individ0ality1 the god .ithin#
Net as -an sees li/e1 as he r0ns his eye do.n the scale o/ beings1 he sees it thro0gh -aya;
in /act1 he is the child o/ -aya on one side1 as he is o/ the spirit on the other# %oth are in hi-#
Ais lesson is to learn that the t.o are one and that they are not separate; then he no longer is
deceived# Ais lesson is to 0nderstand that -aya1 the great del0der1 is the /a-o0s sna2e or
serpent o/ antiI0ity1 .hich leads 0s o0t /ro- the Barden o/ Eden !e-ploying a %iblical
-etaphor"1 thro0gh e3perience and s0//ering to learn .hat ill0sion i! ? and is not#
,lso -atter1 .hich is the -ayavi -ani/estation o/ ra2riti on this plane !and $ -ean here
physical -atter"1 itsel/ is not s0bstantial# The -ost dense and rigid things .e can thin2 o/1
perhaps1 are the -etals1 and act0ally they are1 perhaps1 the -ost poro0s1 the -ost /oa-li2e1
the -ost evanescent1 as seen /ro- the other or higher side o/ being1 /ro- the other side o/
the plane# So .ell is this no. 0nderstood that o0r -ore int0itive scientists are telling 0s that
space1 .hich see-s to 0s so thin and ten0o0s1 is in reality -ore rigid than the hardest steel#
:hy is it that electricity pre/ers -etals as a path to co--on .ood1 or cotton .ool1 or so-e
other s0ch thing;
%e/ore .e go /0rther1 it .o0ld see- necessary to st0dy a little .hat .e -ean by the .ords
-anvantara and pralaya# 9et 0s ta2e an4antara/irst# This .ord is a Sans2rit co-po0nd1 and
as s0ch -eans nothing -ore than bet.een t.o 7an0s; literally1 @-an0'bet.een#@ 7an01 or
dhyani'chohan1 in the esoteric syste-1 is the entities collectively .hich appear /irst at the
beginning o/ -ani/estation and /ro- .hich1 li2e a cos-ic tree1 everything is derived or born#
7an0 act0ally is the !spirit0al" tree o/ li/e o/ any planetary chain1 o/ -ani/ested being# 7an0 is
th0s1 in one sense1 the Third 9ogos; as the Second is the Father'7other1 the %rah-a and
ra2riti; and the First is .hat .e call the Un-ani/est 9ogos1 or %rah-an !ne0ter" and its
cos-ic veil radhana#
$radhana is also a Sans2rit co-po0nd1 -eaning that .hich is @placed be/ore@; and /ro- this1
it has beco-e a technical ter- in philosophy1 and -eans .hat .e .o0ld call the /irst /il-y
appearance o/ root'-atter1 @placed be/ore@ or rather aro0nd %rah-an as a veil# Root'-atter
is 70lapra2riti1 root'nat0re1 and corresponding to it as the other or active pole is %rah-an
!ne0ter"# That /ro- .hich the First or Un-ani/est 9ogos proceeds is called arabrah-an1
and 70lapra2riti is it! 2os-ic veil#$ara6rahan is another Sans2rit co-po0nd1 -eaning
@beyond %rah-an#@ Mula%ra2riti1 again1 as said above1 is a Sans2rit co-po0nd
-eaning ula1 @root1@ %ra2riti1 @nat0re#@
First1 then1 the %o0ndless1 sy-boliDed by the LLcircleMM; then arabrah-an1 and 70lapra2riti
its other pole; then lo.er1 %rah-an and its veil radhana; then %rah-a'ra2riti or 0r0sha'
ra2riti !ra2riti being also -aya"; the -ani/ested 0niverse appearing thro0gh and by this
last5 %rah-a'ra2riti1 Father'7other# $n other .ords1 the Second 9ogos1 Father'7other1 is the
prod0cing ca0se o/ -ani/estation thro0gh their Son1 .hich in a planetary chain is 7an0# ,
-anvantara1 there/ore1 is the period o/ activity bet.een any t.o 7an0s1 on any plane1 since
in any s0ch period there is a root'7an0 at the beginning o/ evol0tion1 and a seed'7an0 at its
close1 preceding a pralaya#
$rala&a5 this is also a Sans2rit co-po0nd1 /or-ed o/ la&a1 /ro- a Sans2rit root li1 and the
pre/i3 %ra# :hat does li -ean; $t -eans @to dissolve1@ @to -elt a.ay1@ @to liI0e/y1@ as .hen
one po0rs .ater 0pon a c0be o/ salt or o/ s0gar# The c0be o/ salt or o/ s0gar vanishes in the
.ater; it dissolves1 changes its /or-; and this -ay be ta2en as a sy-bol o/ .hat pralaya is5 a
cr0-bling a.ay1 a vanishing a.ay o/ -atter into so-ething else .hich is yet in it1 and
s0rro0nds it1 and interpenetrates it# That is pralaya1 0s0ally translated as the state o/ latency1
state o/ rest or repose1 bet.een t.o -anvantaras or li/e cycles# $/ .e re-e-ber distinctly the
-eaning o/ the Sans2rit .ord1 o0r -inds ta2e a ne. bent in direction1 /ollo. a ne. tho0ght;
.e get ne. ideas; .e penetrate into the arcan0- o/ the thing that ta2es place#
&o. there are -any 2inds o/ -anvantaras; also -any 2inds o/ pralayas# There are1 /or
instance1 the 0niversal -anvantara and the 0niversal pralaya1 and these are called %ra2riti2a1
beca0se it is the pralaya or vanishing a.ay1 -elting a.ay1 o/ ra2riti or nat0re# Then there is
the solar pralaya# S0n in Sans2rit is !ur&a/ and the ad>ective /ro- this is !aur&a; hence1 the
sa0rya'pralaya1 or the pralaya o/ the solar syste-# Then1 thirdly1 there is the terrestrial or
planetary pralaya# The Sans2rit .ord /or earth is 6hui1 and the ad>ective corresponding to
this is 6haui2a5 hence1 the bha0-i2a'pralaya# Then .e can say that there is the pralaya or
death o/ the individ0al -an# 7an is %uru!ha8 the corresponding ad>ective is%auru!ha5 hence1
the pa0r0sha'pralaya1 or death o/ -an# So1 then1 .e have given e3a-ples o/ vario0s
pralayas5 /irst o/ the pra2riti2a1 or dissol0tion o/ nat0re; ne3t the solar pralaya1 the sa0rya;
ne3t the bha0-i2a1 or the passing a.ay o/ the earth; and then the pa0r0sha1 or the death o/
-an# ,nd these ad>ectives apply eI0ally .ell to the several 2inds o/ -anvantaras or li/e
cycles#
There is another 2ind o/ pralaya .hich is called nit&a# $n its general sense1 it -eans
@constant@ or @contin0o0s1@ and can be e3e-pli/ied by the constant or contin0o0s change ?
li/e and death ? o/ the cells o/ o0r bodies# $t is a state in .hich the ind.elling and do-inating
entity re-ains1 b0t its di//erent principles and ru%a!/ or @bodies1@ 0ndergo contin0o0s change#
Aence it is called nitya# $t applies to the body o/ -an1 to the o0ter sphere o/ earth1 to the earth
itsel/1 to the solar syste-1 and to all nat0re#
$t is li2e.ise represented by a sy-bol that A# # %lavats2y has given 0s /ro- the 4riental
.isdo-1 the o0tbreathing and inbreathing o/ %rah-an# This sy-bol1 by the .ay1 is not solely
$ndian# $t is /o0nd in the ancient Egyptian te3ts1 .here one or another o/ the gods1 <hn0-01
/or instance1 breathes /orth /ro- his -o0th the cos-ic egg# $t is also /o0nd all0ded to in the
4rphic Ay-ns1 .here the cos-ic serpent breathes /orth as an egg the things .hich are to
be1 or the /0t0re 0niverse# Every.here1 especially .here ancient religion or philosophy has
longest retained its hold1 there do .e /ind the sy-bol o/ the cos-ic egg# Religions o/ less age
and o/ less in/l0ence do not so o/ten e-ploy it# The cos-ic egg .as /o0nd as a sy-bol in
Egypt; it .as /o0nd in Aind0stan; it .as /o0nd in er01 .here the @7ighty 7an1@ the Sans2rit
0r0sha1 the $deal 7an1 .as called 7anco 6apac1 and his .i/e and sister .as called 7a-a
4cllo1 .hich -eans @7other Egg@5 these bro0ght the 0niverse into being1 beco-ing later the
s0n and the -oon respectively#
:hy did the ancients sy-boliDe the beginning o/ -ani/estation 0nder the /or- o/ an egg; 9et
0s as25 is it not a /ine sy-bol; ,s the egg prod0cing the chic2 contains the ger- o/ li/e !laid
by its -other the hen1 and /r0cti/ied by the other pole o/ being"1 so the cos-ic egg1 .hich is
the ri-ordial oint1 also contains the ger- o/ li/e# The egg itsel/ also can be called the ger-
o/ li/e1 and the ger- o/ li/e .ithin the egg can be called the inner ger- ? that -ore s0btil point
.hich receives those i-p0lses o/ .hich .e have spo2en be/ore1 co-ing do.n /ro- the
highest center o/ co--0nication bet.een the o0t.ard .orld and the inner1 the lines o/ inner
-agnetic action and reaction# ,nd .hen the chic2 .ithin the egg is /or-ed1 it b0rsts its shell
and co-es /orth into the light o/ day1 precisely as .e sa. .as the case .ith the ri-ordial
oint# :hen the 2ar-ic ho0r had str0c21 it b0rst /orth1 as it .ere1 into other spheres o/
-ani/estation and activity# The ancients1 carrying the /ig0re still /arther1 even spo2e o/ heaven
as a do-eli2e a//air1 as the 0pper part o/ an eggshell#
9et 0s thin2 -ore deeply o/ these ancient sy-bols# The ancients .ere not /ools# There is a
deep -eaning in these olden /ig0res o/ speech# :hy did Ao-er spea2 o/ his 4ly-p0s1 the
abode o/ He0s and the gods1 as being braDen1 li2e brass1 one o/ the hardest and -ost
intractable things that the Bree2s 2ne.; :hy did Aesiod spea2 o/ the sa-e as -ade o/ iron;
%eca0se they realiDed that the li/e here in -atter and o/ -atter1 .as based 0pon an
evanescent s0bstrat0-1 and that the lo.er .orld o/ -atter is1 as has been so o/ten said1
evanescent1 /oa-y1 /0ll o/ holes1 as it .ere1 and 0nreal#
hapter Five
The Esoteric Teachings and the &eb0lar Theory# Bods behind the <os-os5
:hy &at0re $s $-per/ect#
To -a2e o/ Science an integral whole necessitates1 indeed1 the st0dy o/ spirit0al and
psychic1 as .ell as physical &at0re# 4ther.ise it .ill ever be li2e the anato-y o/ -an1
disc0ssed o/ old by the pro/ane /ro- the point o/ vie. o/ his shell'side and in ignorance o/
the interior .or2# # # #
The d0ty o/ the 4cc0ltist lies .ith the Soul and S%irit o/ 6os-ic Space1 not -erely .ith its
ill0sive appearance and behavio0r# That o/ o//icial physical science is to analyDe and
st0dy its !hell ? the3ltia Thule o/ the Universe and -an1 in the opinion o/ 7aterialis-#
:ith the latter1 4cc0ltis- has no0ght to do# $t is only .ith the theories o/ s0ch -en o/
learning as <epler1 <ant1 4ersted1 and Sir :# Aerschel1 .ho believed in a Spirit0al .orld1
that 4cc0lt 6os-ogony -ight treat1 and atte-pt a satis/actory co-pro-ise# %0t the vie.s
o/ those physicists di//ered vastly /ro- the latest -odern spec0lations# <ant and Aerschel
had in their -ind8s eye spec0lations 0pon the origin and the "inal de!tin&/ as .ell as the
present aspect1 o/ the Universe1 /ro- a /ar -ore philosophical and psychic standpoint;
.hereas -odern 6os-ology and ,strono-y no. rep0diate anything li2e research into
the -ysteries o/ being# The res0lt is .hat -ight be e3pected5 co-plete /ail0re and
ine3tricable contradictions in the tho0sand and one varieties o/ so'called scienti/ic
theories1 and in this theory as in all others#
The neb0lar hypothesis1 involving the theory o/ the e3istence o/ a pri-eval -atter1
di//0sed in a neb0lo0s condition1 is o/ no -odern date in astrono-y as everyone 2no.s#
,na3i-enes1 o/ the $onian school1 had already ta0ght that the sidereal bodies .ere
/or-ed thro0gh the progressive condensation o/ a pri-ordial %regenetic-atter1 .hich had
al-ost a negative .eight1 and .as spread o0t thro0gh Space in an e3tre-ely s0bli-ated
condition# ? The Secret Doctrine/ $1 (++1 (+9'9)
TAERE ,RE three points .hich it .o0ld see- necessary to to0ch 0pon slightly be/ore .e
begin o0r evening8s st0dy#
The /irst is .ith regard to the I0estion o/ -orals1 that is to say1 right cond0ct based 0pon right
vie.s1 right thin2ing# :e have to0ched 0pon this -atter at nearly every -eeting beca0se the
line1 the path1 o/ d0ty ? o/ right cond0ct based 0pon right vie.s ? is the path o/ all .ho .o0ld
tread on.ard to the ancient .isdo- and to the ancient 7ysteries# The great thin2ers1
philosophers1 and religio0s -en1 o/ all ages1 have told 0s the sa-e thing#
These -eetings are not /or p0rposes o/ intellect0al st0dy only1 or to a-0se o0rselves .ith
abstr0se and -ystic 2no.ledge; b0t -ainly1 /irstly1 principally1 /or the p0rpose o/ gaining a
right /o0ndation /or right vie.s .hich shall govern h0-an cond0ct# :hen .e have this
/o0ndation .e have the beginnings o/ all la.s# :e can a//ect the .orld by o0r o.n vie.s and
by o0r o.n acts; and1 /0rther1 .e shall be able in ti-e to a//ect /or good even the
govern-ents o/ the .orld1 not directly and i--ediately perhaps1 b0t at least indirectly and in
the co0rse o/ ti-e# ,ll the horrible things that perple3 and con/0se and distress -an2ind
today arise .holly1 al-ost1 o0t o/ a lac2 o/ right vie.s1 and hence1 a lac2 o/ right cond0ct# :e
have the testi-ony o/ the Bree2 and Ro-an initiates and thin2ers that the ancient 7ysteries
o/ Breece ta0ght -en1 above everything else1 to live rightly and to have a noble hope /or the
li/e a/ter death#
&e3t1 the second point5 in o0r last -eeting .e to0ched 0pon the ancient 7ysteries1 and .e
too2 as e3a-ples those o/ Breece /ro- .hich the Ro-ans derived their o.n 7ysteries1 b0t
.e to0ched 0pon one point only1 the -ythological aspect; and this -ythological aspect
co-prises only a portion ? a relatively s-all portion ? o/ .hat .as ta0ght in the 7ystery
Schools1 principally at Sa-othrace and at Ele0sis# ,t Sa-othrace .as ta0ght the sa-e
7ystery'teaching that .as c0rrent else.here in Breece1 b0t here it .as -ore developed and
recondite; and the /o0ndation o/ these 7ystery'teachings .as -orals# The noblest and
greatest -en o/ ancient ti-es in Breece .ere initiates in the 7ysteries o/ these t.o seats o/
esoteric 2no.ledge#
$n other co0ntries /arther to the east they had other 7ystery Schools or @colleges1@ and this
.ord college by no -eans necessarily -eant a -ere te-ple or b0ilding; it -eant
@association1@ as in o0r -odern .ord colleag0e1 associate# The Te0tonic tribes o/ northern
E0rope1 the Ber-anic tribes ? .hich incl0ded Scandinavia ? had their 7ystery'colleges also;
and teacher and neophytes stood on the boso- o/ 7other Earth1 0nder Father Ether1 the
bo0ndless s2y1 or in s0bterranean receptacles1 and ta0ght and learned# :e state here at
once that the core1 the heart1 the center1 o/ the ancient 7ysteries .as the abstr0se proble-s
dealing .ith death# These teachings .e still have1 and they .ill be /orthco-ing#
The third point is .ith regard to the paradig-s or diagra-s .hich .e -ay /ind necessary to
0se /ro- ti-e to ti-e in order to ill0strate certain teachings# Re-e-ber that these paradig-s
are relative and changeable; they are not hard and /ast or absol0te things# This /act -0st be
2ept al.ays clear in the -ind1 and aro0nd the- the -ind sho0ld ne4er be allo.ed to
crystalliDe# :hy; %eca0se any paradig-1 any partic0lar co-bination o/ geo-etrical lines1 can
ill0strate di//erent tho0ghts or things5 /or instance1 the paradig- o/ the triangle /ro- .hich
hangs the sI0are !as 0sed at o0r last -eeting" can apply eI0ally as .ell to the highest
co-bined principle in -an1 the spirit0al'-ental -onad1 as to the lo.er principles into .hich
the -onad /alls at the beginning o/ incarnation or -ani/estation1 and /ro- .hich it .ill
res0rrect .hen the /irst chi-es o/ the pralayic bells are heard in the a2asic spaces#
:e .ill no. res0-e o0r st0dy# :e ta2e 0p1 as o0r general the-e1 the sa-e t.o paragraphs
on page *3 o/ vol0-e $ o/ The Secret Doctrine/.hich .e read at o0r last -eeting5
The Secret =octrine teaches the progressive develop-ent o/ everything1 .orlds as .ell as
ato-s; and this st0pendo0s develop-ent has neither conceivable beginning nor i-aginable
end# 40r @Universe@ is only one o/ an in/inite n0-ber o/ Universes1 all o/ the- @Sons o/
&ecessity1@ beca0se lin2s in the great 6os-ic chain o/ Universes1 each one standing in the
relation o/ an e//ect as regards its predecessor1 and being a ca0se as regards its s0ccessor#
The appearance and disappearance o/ the Universe are pict0red as an o0tbreathing and
inbreathing o/ @the Breat %reath1@ .hich is eternal1 and .hich1 being 7otion1 is one o/ the
three aspects o/ the ,bsol0te ? ,bstract Space and =0ration being the other t.o# :hen the
@Breat %reath@ is pro>ected1 it is called the =ivine %reath1 and is regarded as the breathing o/
the Un2no.able =eity ? the 4ne E3istence ? .hich breathes o0t a tho0ght1 as it .ere1 .hich
beco-es the <os-os# !See @$sis Unveiled#@" So also is it .hen the =ivine %reath is inspired
again the Universe disappears into the boso- o/ @the Breat 7other1@ .ho then sleeps
@.rapped in her invisible robes#@
$t .as the intention to ta2e 0p this evening the da.n o/ -ani/estation as it is /o0nd in the
Aebre. %oo2 o/ %eginnings called Benesis1 and to st0dy this and to sho. its si-ilarity and
li2eness1 and the /0nda-ental identity o/ tr0th on .hich it is based1 as co-pared .ith the
other religions o/ the .orld# %0t in vie. o/ the /act that .e .ere obliged at o0r last st0dy to
to0ch 0pon the /irst co-ing'into'being o/ the veil cast over the /ace o/ the $ne//able1 it .o0ld
see- best this evening to 0nderta2e1 i/ .e have ti-e1 a short s2etch o/ .hat in science is
called the neb0lar theory1 ho. /ar the esoteric teachings r0n .ith it1 and .here and .hen
they part /ro- it#
The neb0lar theory1 as originally ta0ght in science by the French-an 9aplace ? b0t derived
by hi- /ro- the great Ber-an thin2er and philosopher1 $--an0el <ant ? stated that the
space .hich is no. occ0pied by the planets o/ the solar syste- .as originally /illed .ith a
very ten0o0s /or- o/ -atter1 in a highly incandescent or b0rning state# 9et 0s say >0st here
that this partic0lar theory o/ 9aplace as regards incandescence has never been proved1 that it
is not s0b>ect in all respects to -athe-atical de-onstration1 and cannot be1 and that it itsel/1
i/ ta2en as a .hole1 /or-s one o/ the greatest proo/s against the tr0th o/ the neb0lar
theory a! it wa! then !tated/ and as it has since been -odi/ied in so-e degree by -odern
thin2ers#
9aplace /0rther stated that this neb0la .as in a condition o/ slo. rotation1 or circ0lar -oving1
in the sa-e direction in .hich the planets no. -ove aro0nd in their orbits1 and in the sa-e
direction in .hich the planets and the s0n no. -ove aro0nd their a3es# $n other .ords1 the
present orbital revol0tion and rotation o/ the planets are derived /ro- this -echanical1
original1 circ0lar -otion o/ the pri-al neb0la#
9aplace li2e.ise stated that this hot1 i--ense ob>ect cooled1 and as it cooled it shran21
according to a certain la. o/ heat1 and this shrin2ing1 according to a la. o/ dyna-ics1
increased the velocity o/ rotation and the -o-ent0- o/ any point on its s0r/ace# &o.1 as
everyone 2no.s1 the parts o/ a .heel .hich are nearest the periphery1 the circ0-/erence1
-ove .ith the greatest -o-ent0- and the greatest speed1 tho0gh no /aster1 in another
sense1 than do the particles at the h0b# This increase o/ rapidity in .hirling aro0nd gre. so
great that a ti-e ca-e .hen the centri/0gal /orce overca-e the centripetal or cohesive /orce1
and then this .hirling neb0la thre. o// a ring1 and this ring also contin0ed going aro0nd1 and
condensing1 and /inally /or-ed a sphere or ball .hich beca-e the o0ter-ost planet1
&ept0ne# ,nd so progressively the other planets ca-e into being1 the core o/ the neb0la
re-aining as o0r s0n# $n brie/1 as the neb0lar body contracted and condensed its -atter1 the
sa-e pheno-enon occ0rred again in the sa-e .ay1 and th0s the second o0ter-ost planet1
Uran0s1 .as thro.n o//1 and so on 0ntil all the planets had co-e into being as spheres# &o.
so-e o/ these ten0o0s1 still neb0lo0s planets1 by contracting and th0s increasing their
rotational velocity1 the-selves evolved rings aro0nd the-selves1 .hich in their t0rn .ere
thro.n o// /ro- their parent'planets1 and /ollo.ing the sa-e co0rse as their parent'planets
beca-e spheres1 .hich th0s beca-e the satellites1 the -oons o/ the respective planets;
.hile the center o/ the original neb0la condensed into the !s0pposedly" incandescent or /iery
ball .hich is the s0n#
:hen A# # %lavats2y /irst bro0ght the theosophical teachings to the :estern .orld1
I0estions o/ cos-ogony1 or the beginning and pri-al develop-ent o/ the 0niverse1 ca-e
-0ch to the /ore and she .as as2ed1 and her Teachers .ere also as2ed thro0gh her1 in .hat
respect the neb0lar theory ran side by side .ith and @corroborated@ the e3position o/ the
theory o/ the occ0ltists1 the esoteric theory; and the ans.er then given .as called @an
evasive ans.er#@ $t aro0sed criticis- and so-e angry lang0age#
:hy1 it .as as2ed1 i/ the Teachers 2no. these .onder/0l tr0ths1 had not they ill0-inated the
.orld .ith the splendor o/ their teachings; :hy did they 2eep the- and other things hid; &o
teaching can be bad /or -an i/ it is true/ it .as arg0ed ? .hich .as a very /oolish arg0-ent1
indeed1 so /ar as it goes1 beca0se -any teachings are tr0e1 and are yet 0tterly 0n/it /or the
average -an to have# Ao.ever1 .e are going to investigate that I0estion tonight#
The neb0lar theory1 the Teachers said1 .as in its ain outline!1 and in certain respects only1
/airly representative o/ .hat the esoteric teaching .as1 b0t it yet1 /or all that1 had vital de/ects;
and these de/ects they did not entirely speci/y nor did they /0lly o0tline the-# %0t they gave
clear hints .here the de/ects lay and .hat they .ere; and they also gave a clear1 logical1 and
concise reason /or their reticence1 .hich .as obligatory and 0navoidable#
&o. the -ain de/ect in the theory o/ 9aplace .as that it .as a p0rely -echanical1 p0rely
-echanistic1 p0rely -aterialistic hypothesis1 in so-e respects 0ncorroborable even by
-athe-atics1 and based 0pon nothing b0t the /act that in the vast abysses o/ space1
astrono-ers1 investigating .astes o/ stellar light1 /o0nd neb0lae and neb0losities and1
adopting <ant8s idea1 arg0ed dog-atically 0pon it# %0t1 nevertheless1 there .as tr0th in the
neb0lar theory ? there .as !oe tr0th# &o. .hat is that tr0th; ,nd .hat .as the -ost vital
de/ect; The -ost vital de/ect1 /irst1 .as the /act ? as hinted above ? that the theory o-itted
all action o/ spirit0al beings in the 0niverse as the drivers1 the agents1 the -echanics or
-echanicians o/ the -echanis- .hich 0ndo0btedly e3ists# :e are ta0ght that the esoteric
philosophy does not deny -echanical action in the 0niverse1 b0t declares that .here there is
-echanical action there is govern-ent or1 speci/ically1 -echanicians at .or21 prod0cing the
-ove-ents o/ the -echanis-1 in accordance .ith 2ar-a# There -0st be @la.@'givers or
@la.@'-a2ers or @la.@'i-p0lsors1 i/ the e3pression -ay be 0sed; and behind these there -0st
be the 0niversal li/e# $n other .ords1 the vital de/ect .as that this neb0lar theory o-itted the
/irst tr0th o/ all being ? that the gods .ere behind the 2os-os1 spirit0al beings1 spirit0al
entities ? the na-e -atters nothing# &ot Bod1 b0t gods#
@&at0re@ is i-per/ect1 hence o/ necessity -a2es @-ista2es1@ beca0se its action derives /ro-
hosts o/ entities at .or2 ? .hat .e see aro0nd 0s all the ti-e is proo/ o/ it# @&at0re@ is not
per/ect# $/ it had spr0ng /ro- the @hands o/ the i--0table =eity1@ hence per/ect and
i--0table li2e its parent1 2no.ing no change1 it .o0ld be a per/ect .or2# $t is -0ch to the
contrary1 as .e 2no.1 and its i-per/ections or @-ista2es@ arise /ro- the /act that the beings
e3isting in and .or2ing in and controlling and a2ingnat0re e3tend in endless hierarchies
/ro- the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost1 /ro- the Aighest o/ the Aighest1 do.n.ards /or ever1 0p.ards
/or ever1 in all degrees o/ i-per/ection and o/ per/ection1 .hich is precisely .hat .e see in
the scenes o/ -ani/estation s0rro0nding 0s# 40r int0ition tells 0s the tr0th concerning this1
and .e sho0ld tr0st it#
This .as .ell 2no.n to the ancients# The Stoics e3pressed it and ta0ght it in their -agni/icent
philosophy# The Stoics o/ Ro-e and o/ Breece originally e3pressed it by .hat they called
theocrasy# Theocrasy has a co-po0nd -eaning ? theo!/ @a god1@ @divine being1@
and 2ra!i!/ -eaning @an inter-ingling@ ? an inter-ingling o/ everything in the 0niverse1
inter-ingling .ith everything else1 nothing possibly separable /ro- the rest1 the :hole# $t is
the cardinal heresy o/ the 4riental religions today1 notably in that o/ the %0ddhists1 i/ a -an
thin2s that he is separate or separable /ro- the 0niverse# This is the -ost /0nda-ental error
that -an can -a2e# The early 6hristians called it the @sin against the Aoly Bhost#@ $/ .e loo2
aro0nd 0s and i/ .e loo2 .ithin1 .e realiDe that .e are one entity1 as it .ere1 one great
h0-an host1 one living tree o/ h0-an li/e1 .oven inseparably into and "ro nat0re1 the ,ll#
The ne3t de/ect o/ the neb0lar theory .as that the neb0la .as declared to be in its earliest
stages incandescent1 b0rning# The esoteric teaching is that it is indeed glo.ing1 b0t glo.ing
.ith a cold light1 the sa-e as1 or si-ilar to1 that o/ the /ire/ly1 i/ yo0 li2e# There is no -ore heat
in a neb0la than there is in the light o/ the /ire/ly# This light in the neb0la1 this l0-inosity1 is not
/ro- co-b0stion o/ any 2ind; b0t1 then1 .hat i! it /ro-; $t is /ro- the ind.elling dai4i1
%ra2riti/ @divine nat0re or light1@ in its -ani/estation on that %lane/ the sa-e light .hich in
sentient beings -ani/ests in a higher /or- as con!ciou!ne!! in all its degrees1 r0nning /ro-
d0ll physical conscio0sness 0p thro0gh the so0l and the ego; thro0gh the sel/ 0p into the
sel/less sel/ o/ the ara-at-an1 the @s0pre-e sel/@ ? a -ere e3pression o/ convenience as
-eaning the ac-e or s0--it o/ a hierarchy1 beca0se really there is no !u%ree sel/1 .hich
.o0ld -ean a li-it1 hence /initeness# $/ there .ere1 there .o0ld be a lo.est sel/# Sel/ is
bo0ndless1 endless1 the very heart o/ being1 the /o0ndation and di-ensionless core o/ all that
is#
&e3t1 the third vital de/ect5 the planets and the s0n .ere not evolved or born in the -anner
stated by the neb0lar theory# Ao. are the s0n and the planets born; !9et -e say here by
.ay o/ parenthesis that this s0b>ect sho0ld co-e -0ch later in o0r st0dy1 b0t there is a
reason /or re/erring to it no.#" Every solar or planetary body1 the s0n and planets in o0r solar
syste- and analogically every.here else1 is the child or rather the re!ult or rei6odient o"
a "orer co!ic entit& .hich1 0pon entering into its pralaya1 its pra2riti2a'pralaya ? the
dissol0tion o/ its lo.er principles ? at the end o/ its long li/e cycle1 e3ists in space in the
higher activity o/ its spirit0al principles and in the dispersion o/ its lo.est principles1 .hich
latter latently e3ist in space as s2andhas1 in .hat is called in Sans2rit ala&a'condition1 /ro-
the root li/ -eaning @to dissolve@ or @to vanish a.ay#@ Aence1 a laya'center is a point o/
disappearance ? the -ystical %oint.here a thing disappears /ro- one plane1 i/ yo0 li2e1 and
passes on.ards to reappear on another plane#
To repeat an ill0stration .hich .e 0sed in o0r last -eeting5 po0r .ater on a c0be o/ s0gar or
salt1 and .atch it dissolve ? vanish as a cu6e or discrete entity# $t has entered its laya'state
as a cu6e or entity o/ s0gar or salt# The /or- o/ it has gone1 and itsel/ ? the s0gar or salt ?
has entered into so-ething else# :hen the higher %rinci%le! o/ a cos-ic body enter into
so-ething else1 .hat is that so-ething else into .hich they enter; They enter into the
highest cos-ic aether /irst1 and in d0e co0rse go still higher into the intense activity o/ the
spirit0al planes; there long aeons are passed in states and conditions to 0s al-ost
0ni-aginable# $n d0e co0rse o/ ti-e they begin their do.n.ard co0rse into -atter again1 or
rei-bodi-ent1 and /inally1 by attraction1 re'collect their old s2andhas hitherto lying latent1 and
th0s /or- /or the-selves a ne. body1 by passing into -ani/estation thro0gh and by the laya'
center .here those s2andhas .ere .aiting#
Those lo.er principles .ere -ean.hile in nirvana1 .hat .e .o0ld call devachan a/ter the
death o/ -an1 /or devachan as a state applies not to the highest or heavenly or divine -onad1
b0t only to the -iddle principles o/ -an1 to the personal ego1 or the personal so0l1 in -an#
,pplied to 0s this condition is the state o/ devachan ? the @land o/ the gods1@ i/ yo0 li2e; b0t
applied to a cos-ic body it is the state o/ nirvana# ,ir4ana is a Sans2rit co-po0nd1 nir1 @o0t1@
and 4ana the past participle passive o/ the root 4a/@to blo.1@ i#e#1 literally @blo.n o0t#@
So badly has the -eaning o/ the ancient $ndian tho0ght !and even its lang0age1 the Sans2rit"
been 0nderstood1 that /or -any years very er0dite E0ropean scholars .ere disc0ssing
.hether being @blo.n o0t@ -eant act0al entitative annihilation or not# $ re-e-ber once tal2ing
.ith a 6hinese savant !he happened to be a %0ddhist" and he told -e that the state o/ -an
a/ter death .as @li2e this@ ? and he too2 0p a lighted candle .hich .as on the table and ble.
0pon it1 and the light .ent o0t# ,nd he said1 >That .ay#@ Ae .as right1 beca0se be .as
re/erring to the lo.er principles in -an# The& !not .e1 o0r -onadic or entitative essence" are
-erely the vehicle in .hich .e live; and .hen .e die1 o0r physical body is @blo.n o0t1@
brea2s 0p1 enters into its pralaya or dissol0tion1 and its -olec0les1 its particles1 go into the
laya'state1 and pass a certain ti-e there 0ntil nat0re calls the- /orth again; or1 to p0t it -ore
acc0rately in another .ay1 0ntil the ind.elling i-p0lse in each physical -onadic particle
thro0gh the thir!t "or acti4e 6eing rises /orth into -ani/estation again1 and it reenters so-e
body o/ appropriate 2ind and o/ si-ilar evol0tional degree#
This is one ? and only one ? /acet o/ the secret o/ the -0ch -is0nderstood doctrine o/
trans-igration into ani-als# The lo.er ele-ents1 the astral body and the astral dregs o/ the
ani-al or physical -an1 beco-e the principles ? not the latent higher/ b0t the inter-ediate
principles ? o/ the beast .orld# They are h0-an dregs cast o// by -an#
The cos-ic d0st res0lting /ro- the dissol0tion o/ a /or-er .orld rests in a laya'center; .hile
the highest principles o/ that .orld or planetary chain are in their paranirvana1 and re-ain
there 0ntil the di4ine thirst /or active li/e on the highest plane o/ descent1 .hich rearises in the
cos-ic -onad o/ a planet or s0n1 p0lls1 p0shes1 or 0rges1 or i-pels1 that -onad to the
spirit0al /rontiers o/ -ani/estation; and .hen it arrives at those /rontiers1 it b0rsts thro0gh
the- as it .ere1 or brea2s thro0gh1 or goes thro0gh1 or cycles do.n.ard thro0gh1 into the
plane belo. it1 and th0s again and again thro0gh -any planes1 till /inally the cycling -onad
reaches and to0ches or lightens all those lo.er ele-ents .hich are re-aining in the laya'
center5 awa2en! the-1 reawa2en! the-1 re4i4i"ie! the-1 recall!the- into
being1 reilluinate! the- /ro- .ithin; and this prod0ces the l0-inosity or neb0losity seen in
so -any parts o/ interstellar space# There/ore1 it is1 act0ally1 dai4i1%ra2riti1 @divine nat0re1@
divine light1 in one o/ its lo.est /or-s ? the seventh1 co0nting do.n.ards ? and this sa-e
light1 or /orce1 on this our plane in one o/ its very lo.est /or-s is electricity and -agnetis-#
40r Teachers have told 0s that the physical 0niverse here in .hich .e live ? the stones1
-etals1 trees1 etc# ? is cor%oreali=ed light# They are all /or-ed o/ ato-s1 and these ato-s1 so
to spea21 are the -ystic ato-s o/ this light1 the corp0sc0lar part o/ light1 beca0se
light i!corp0sc0lar5 it is not a -ere -ode o/ -otion or a .ave or so-ething else# 9ight !o0r
light" is a body1 as -0ch a body as electricity ? one o/ its /or-s ? is a body1 i#e#1 -aterial1 or
s0btil -atter#
&o.1 then1 .hen this neb0la o/ .hich .e have been spea2ing ? let 0s give it the scienti/ic
na-e ? has attained the point o/ develop-ent or evol0tion do.n.ards into -ani/estation
.here the rei-bodying principles o/ the /or-er .orld or cos-os or s0n or planet1 as the case
-ay be1 have s0//iciently entered into it1 it begins to rotate by a characteristic energy1 si-ilar
to electro-agnetis-1 inherent in itsel/# lato tells 0s that circ0lar -otion is one o/ the /irst
signs o/ entitative1 /ree1 e3istence ? a saying .hich is o/ten la0ghed at by o0r yo0ng savants
o/ science and I0onda- big.igs o/ a transitory era o/ dog-atic thin2ing# lato
de/ines 6eing as a @body .hich is capable o/ acting and being acted 0pon#@ $t is a good
de/inition to re-e-ber1 /or it i-plies both passive and active e3istence ? or -ani/estation# Ae
said that .ith re/erence to the highest essence o/ the cos-os ? the pri-al rinciple o/ .hich
A# # %lavats2y spea2s as the ine//able That ? it is not @a@ being1 hence li-ited1 possessing
bo0nds1 beca0se neither does it act nor is it acted 0pon# $t is )ll1 eternally1 endlessly )ll#
So this cos-ic neb0la dri/ts /ro- the place .here it /irst .as evolved1 the g0iding i-p0lse o/
2ar-a directing here and directing there1 this l0-ino0s neb0losity -oving circ0larly1 and
contracting1 passing thro0gh other phases o/ neb0lar evol0tion1 s0ch as the spiral stage and
the ann0lar1 0ntil it beco-es spherical1 or rather a neb0lar series o/ concentric spheres# The
neb0la in space1 as >0st said1 ta2es o/ten a spiral /or-1 and /ro- the core1 the center1 there
strea- /orth branches1 spiral branches1 and they loo2 li2e .hirling .heels within .heels1 and
they .hirl d0ring -any ages# :hen the ti-e has co-e ? .hen the .hirling has
developed %ari %a!!u .ith the ind.elling lives and intelligences .ithin the cos-ic neb0la ?
then the ann0lar /or- appears1 a /or- li2e a ring or concentric rings1 .ith a heart in the
center1 and a/ter long aeons1 the central heart beco-es the s0n or central body o/ the ne.
solar syste-1 and the rings the planets# These rings condense into other bodies1 and these
other bodies are the planets circ0lating aro0nd their elder 6rother/ the s0n; elder1 beca0se he
.as the /irst to condense into a sphere#
The idea o/ -odern scientists that the neb0lar s0n thre. o// the planets1 and that the earth
a/ter partial solidi/ication thre. o// the -oon1 and that the other planets having -oons did
li2e.ise1 is not the teaching o/ the esoteric philosophy# $t has never been proved1 and it is
criticiDed daily by -en as e-inent as those .ho propo0nded these theories# The neb0lar
theory as propo0nded and -odi/ied /ro- ti-e to ti-e1 science has never proved; scientists
have never been able to prove .hy so -0ch heat co0ld develop and be retained in so
ten0o0s1 so diaphano0s an ob>ect# :hy1 i/ the l0-inosity arises /ro- co-b0stion o/ gaseo0s
-atter1 does it not b0rn itsel/ o0t; $t had billions o/ years1 co0ntless ages1 in .hich to b0rn
o0t1 and the s2y is dotted .ith neb0lae .hich have not b0rned o0t yet; and si-ilarly .ith
regard to the s0n# The s0n is /or-ed o/ the sa-e -atter as the neb0lae1 later beco-ing
co-etary -atter# The s0n does not b0rn; it has no -ore heat in it than has a pane o/ glass
.hich trans-its the solar ray#
The s0n is not in co-b0stion5 it is the generator and storeho0se o/ the -ighty ocean o/ /orce
and /orces .hich /eed o0r entire solar syste-# 7atter is corporealiDed or crystalliDed /orce;
/orce1 inversely1 -ay be called s0btil -atter ? or -atter in its /o0rth1 /i/th1 si3th1 and seventh
states1 /or "orce and atter are one# The s0n is a storeho0se and generator o/ /orces1 and is
itsel/ /orce in its /irst and second states ? i#e#1 -atter in its si3th and seventh states1 co0nting
0p.ard# :e shall st0dy this s0b>ect -ore /0lly in a later lect0re#
This is a bare o0tline o/ the teachings that .e have received on the s0b>ects treated o/# The
-oon co-prises another s0b>ect1 .hich .ill -erit in d0e ti-e very partic0lar st0dy1 indeed#
First a neb0la1 then a co-et1 then a planet; b0t the above s2etch o0tlines the state o/ a solar
syste- in the /irst era o/ the !olar -anvantara# &o. let 0s ta2e any one planet and shortly1
brie/ly1 to0ch 0pon the nat0re o/ a%lanetar& -anvantara# The s0n1 o/ co0rse1 re-ains
thro0gho0t the solar -anvantara# $t began .ith it1 and .hen the solar syste- co-es to an
end1 the s0n8s pralaya .ill also co-e# %0t the planets are di//erent in certain respects# They
have their -anvantara also1 each one o/ the-1 lasting 0s0ally -any billions o/ years; and
.hen a planetary chain or body has reached its ter-1 .hen its ho0r stri2es /or going into rest1
or into pralaya or dissol0tion1 the -anvantara ends and pralaya begins1 b0t in this case it is
not a pra2riti2a'pralaya .hich1 yo0 re-e-ber1 signi/ies or -eans the dissol0tion o/ nat0re#
The planetary body re-ains dead1 as is no. the -oon itsel/1 b0t it sends its principles
!precisely as the /or-er solar syste- did" into a laya'center in space1 and they re-ain there
/or @inn0-erable ages#@ 7ean.hile the other planets o/ that solar syste- go thro0gh their
cycles; b0t the planet .hich .e have pic2ed o0t /or ill0stration1 .hen its ti-e co-es again to
descend into -anvantara1 /ollo.s its line o/ develop-ent in precisely the sa-e .ay as
o0tlined be/ore# $t descends again into -ani/estation thro0gh the inner divine planetary thirst
/or active li/e and is directed to the sa-e solar syste-1 and to the sa-e spot1 relatively
spea2ing1 that its predecessor !its "orer !el"B had1 attracted thither by -agnetic and other
/orces on the lo.er planes# $t /or-s1 in the beginning o/ its co0rse or >o0rney do.n.ards1 a
planetary neb0la; a/ter -any aeons it beco-es a co-et1 /ollo.ing 0lti-ately an elliptic orbit
aro0nd the s0n o/ o0r solar syste-1 th0s being @capt0red1@ as o0r scientists .rongly say1 by
the s0n; and /inally condenses into a planet in its earliest physical condition# The co-ets o/
short periodic ti-e are on their .ay to rebeco-ing planets in o0r solar syste-1 provided they
s0ccess/0lly el0de the -any dangers that beset s0ch ethereal bodies 6e"ore condensation
and hardening o/ their -atter shield the- /ro- destr0ction#
hapter $i&
The =a.n o/ 7ani/estation5 9aya'centers# , 6onscio0s Universe ! $piritually
Purposive. $toic "octrine o# the 'nter(in)lin) o# All Bein)s* %+aws
o# Nature.% Philosophical Polytheis( and the "octrine o#
,ierarchies.
DaB The hierarchy o/ 6reative o.ers is divided into seven !or * and 3" esoteric1 .ithin the
t.elve great 4rders1 recorded in the t.elve signs o/ the Hodiac; the seven o/ the
-ani/esting scale being connected1 -oreover1 .ith the Seven lanets# ,ll this is
s0bdivided into n0-berless gro0ps o/ divine Spirit0al1 se-i'Spirit0al1 and ethereal %eings#
The 6hie/ Aierarchies a-ong these are hinted at in the great G0aternary1 or the @/o0r
bodies and the three /ac0lties@ o/ %rah-a e3oterically1 and the anchasya-1 the /ive
%rah-as1 or the /ive =hyani'%0ddhas in the %0ddhist syste-# ? The Secret Doctrine1 $1
213
The re/0sal to ad-it in the .hole Solar syste- o/ any other reasonable and intellect0al
beings on the h0-an plane1 than o0rselves1 is the greatest conceit o/ o0r age# ,ll that
science has a right to a//ir-1 is that there are no invisible $ntelligences living 0nder the
sa-e conditions as .e do# $t cannot deny point'blan2 the possibility o/ there being .orlds
.ithin .orlds1 0nder totally di//erent conditions to those that constit0te the nat0re o/ o0r
.orld; nor can it deny that there -ay be a certain li-ited co--0nication bet.een so-e o/
those .orlds and o0r o.n# To the highest1 .e are ta0ght1 belong the seven orders o/ the
p0rely divine Spirits; to the si3 lo.er ones belong hierarchies that can occasionally be
seen and heard by -en1 and .ho do co--0nicate .ith their progeny o/ the Earth; .hich
progeny is indissol0bly lin2ed .ith the-1 each principle in -an having its direct so0rce in
the nat0re o/ those great %eings1 .ho /0rnish 0s .ith the respective invisible ele-ents in
0s# ? $bid#1 $1 133
:E 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/vol0-e $1 page 2(+5
@:hatsoever I0its the 9aya State1 beco-es active li/e; it is dra.n into the vorte3 o/
74T$4& !the alche-ical solvent o/ 9i/e"; Spirit and 7atter are the t.o States o/ the 4&E1
.hich is neither Spirit nor 7atter1 both being the absol0te li/e1 latent#@ !9oo2 o"
D=&an/6o--# iii1 par# 1+"# # # # @Spirit is the /irst di//erentiation o/ !and in" S,6E; and
7atter the /irst di//erentiation o/ Spirit# That1 .hich is neither Spirit nor -atter ? that is $T ?
the 6a0seless 6,USE o/ Spirit and 7atter1 .hich are the 6a0se o/ <os-os# ,nd TA,T
.e call the 4&E 9$FE or the $ntra'6os-ic %reath#@
$n o0r st0dy o/ a .ee2 ago .e e-bar2ed 0pon a brie/ disc0ssion1 or rather a short e3c0rs0s1
.ith regard to certain astrono-ical /actors .hich enter very largely into the occ0lt or esoteric
teaching .hich leads to a proper co-prehension o/ cos-ogony or .orld b0ilding1 and also o/
theogony or the genesis o/ the gods or divine intelligences .ho initiate and direct
cos-ogony1 as these are o0tlined in The Secret Doctrine+ :ithin the ti-e at o0r disposal .e
shortly revie.ed the esoteric /or-0lae in .hich the ancient .isdo- is i-bodied1 and
the e""ectual agencies .hich act at the da.n o/ -ani/estation; and this evening .e shall
0nderta2e brie/ly to revie. the cau!al agencies or aspects o/ the sa-e s0b>ect#
The da.n o/ -ani/estation1 as The Secret Doctrine tells 0s1 begins in and .ith the a.a2ening
o/ a laya'center# The Sans2rit .ord laya1 as .e sa. be/ore1 signi/ies in esotericis- that point
or spot ? any point or any spot ? in space .hich1 o.ing to 2ar-ic la.1 s0ddenly beco-es the
center o/ active li/e1 /irst on a higher plane and later descending into -ani/estation thro0gh
and by the lo.er planes# $n one sense s0ch a laya'center -ay be conceived o/ as a canal1 a
channel1 thro0gh .hich the vitality o/ the s0perior spheres is po0ring do.n into1 and inspiring1
inbreathing into1 the lo.er planes or states o/ -atter1 or rather o/ s0bstance# %0t behind all
this vitality there is a driving /orce# There are -echanics in the 0niverse1 -echanics o/ -any
degrees o/ conscio0sness and po.er# %0t behind the p0re -echanic stands the spirit0al
-echanician#
$t .o0ld see- absol0tely necessary /irst to soa2 o0r -inds thro0gh and thro0gh .ith the
tho0ght that everything in o0r cos-ical 0niverse1 i#e#1 the stellar 0niverse1 is ali4e1 is directed
by .ill and governed by intelligence# %ehind every cos-ic body that .e see1 there is a
directing intelligence and a g0iding .ill#
$/ theosophy has one nat0ral ene-y against .hich it has /o0ght and .ill al.ays /ight it is the
-aterialistic vie. o/ li/e1 the vie. that nothing e3ists e3cept dead 0nconscio0s -atter1 and
that the pheno-ena o/ li/e and tho0ght and conscio0sness spring /ro- it# This is not -erely
0nnat0ral and there/ore i-possible; it is abs0rd as a hypothesis#
4n the contrary1 as .e -ay read in The Secret Doctrine/ the -ain1 /0nda-ental1 and basic
post0late o/ being is that the 0niverse is driven by .ill and conscio0sness1 g0ided by .ill and
conscio0sness1 and is spirit0ally p0rposive# :hen a laya'center is /ired into action by the
to0ch o/ these t.o on their do.n.ard .ay1 beco-ing the i-bodying li/e o/ a solar syste-1 or
o/ a planet o/ a solar syste-1 the center -ani/ests /irst on its highest plane# The s2andhas
!.hich .e described in a /or-er st0dy" are a.a2ened into li/e one a/ter another5 /irst the
highest ones1 ne3t the inter-ediate ones1 and lastly the in/erior ones1 cos-ically and
I0alitatively spea2ing#
$n s0ch laya'centers the i-bodying li/e sho.s itsel/ /irst to o0r physical h0-an eyes as a
l0-ino0s neb0la ? -atter .hich .e -ay describe as being o/ co0rse on the /o0rth plane o/
nat0re or pra2riti1 b0t nevertheless in the second !co0nting do.n.ards" o/ the seven
principles or states o/ the -aterial 0niverse# $t is a -ani/estation in that 0niverse o/ daivi'
pra2riti1 i#e#1 @shining@ pra2riti or @divine@ pra2riti# ,s the aeons pass this laya'center1 no.
-ani/esting as a neb0la1 re-ains in space steadily tho0gh slo.ly developing and condensing
!/ollo.ing the i-p0lses o/ the /orces that have a.a2ened it into action on this plane"# ,s the
aeons pass1 $ say1 it is dra.n to.ards that part or locality in space1 i/ .e are spea2ing o/ a
solar syste-1 or to.ards that s0n1 i/ .e are describing the co-ing into being o/ a planet1 .ith
.hich it has 2ar-ic ? s2andhic ? a//inities or -agnetic attraction1 and event0ally -ani/ests in
the latter case as a co-et# The -atter o/ a co-et1 by the .ay1 is entirely di//erent /ro- the
-atter .e have any 2no.ledge o/ on earth1 and .hich it is i-possible to reprod0ce 0nder any
physical conditions in o0r laboratories1 beca0se this -atter1 .hile on the /o0rth plane o/
-ani/estation !other.ise .e sho0ld not sense it .ith o0r /o0rth'plane eyes"1 is -atter in
another state than any 2no.n to 0s ? probably in the si3th state1 co0nting /ro- belo.1 or the
second state co0nting /ro- above#
4/ s0ch -atter is the s0n1 or rather the solar body1 in its outward "orco-posed# $t is
physical -atter in the si3th state1 co0nting 0p.ards1 or in the second state co0nting
do.n.ards or o0t.ard; and its n0cle0s .hich1 as A# # %lavats2y tells 0s in The Secret
Doctrine/ is a particle or a solar ato- o/ pri-al -atter'st0//1 or spirit'st0//1 is -atter in the
seventh state co0nting 0p.ards1 or the /irst or highest co0nting do.n.ards#
This co-et in ti-e1 i/ it s0cceed in p0rs0ing its .ay to.ards beco-ing .hat it is destined to
be1 beco-es /inally a planet; it so beco-es 0nless it -eet .ith so-e disaster1 as .hen it is
s.allo.ed 0p by one or another o/ the s0ns .hich it -ay pass in its /ar'/l0ng orbit# So-e
co-ets have already in o0r solar syste- so nearly reached the planetary state in its /irst
stages1 on the .ay to beco-ing a /0ll'gro.n planet o/ the solar syste-1 that their orbits lie
.ithin the con/ines or li-its o/ this syste-# S0ch1 /or instance1 is Enc2e8s co-et1 having an
elliptical orbit1 and -oving aro0nd the s0n in a closed c0rve in the space o/ a little over three
years# ,nother one is %iela8s .hich1 $ believe1 has not been seen again1 a/ter it appeared to
brea2 into t.o1 $ thin2 in the 8/i/ties o/ last cent0ry# ,nother one .as Faye8s1 having the largest
orbit o/ all these three# T.o others are de Fico8s and %rorsen8s#
$t .o0ld see- as i/ all those co-ets .hich are dra.n into elliptical orbits aro0nd o0r s0n1
.ere so dra.n beca0se they .ere 2ar-ically destined 0lti-ately to beco-e planets o/ o0r
syste-; b0t others1 again1 s0//er another /ate# They perish1 absorbed or torn to pieces by the
ine3pressibly active in/l0ences .hich s0rro0nd not -erely o0r o.n b0t all other s0ns1
beca0se each s0n1 .hile being the center o/ its o.n syste- o/ planets1 and their li/e'giver1
/ro- another aspect is a cos-ical va-pire# There is -0ch -ore on this s0b>ect that -0st be
said1 b0t it is very do0bt/0l .hether1 at the present stage o/ o0r st0dy1 it .o0ld be .ise to
e-bar2 0pon a .ider e3position no.#
:e desire this evening to ta2e 0p again the sa-e thread o/ tho0ght1 contin0ing .ith a st0dy
o/ the beginning o/ things as o0tlined in Benesis1 and as ill0strated -ore partic0larly by the
Ee.ish theosophy called the Gabbalah# $/ the ti-e allotted to 0s be ins0//icient to do so this
evening1 .e hope to begin that st0dy at o0r ne3t -eeting#
&othing in the 0niverse is separate /ro- any other thing# ,ll things hang together not -erely
sy-pathetically and -agnetically b0t beca0se all beings are /0nda-entally one# :e have
one !el"/ one sel/ o/ selves1 -ani/esting in the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost being o/ all# %0t .e have
-any egos1 and the st0dy o/ the ego in that branch o/ o0r tho0ght .hich is e-braced 0nder
the head o/ psychology is one o/ the -ost inherently necessary and one o/ the -ost
interesting and i-portant that can be 0nderta2en#
,ro0nd the ego1 so /ar as .e h0-ans are concerned1 center so-e o/ the -ost i-portant
teachings o/ the esoteric .isdo-# :itho0t going into this st0dy at so-e length1 it is
i-possible /or 0s to 0nderstand certain o/ the teachings in The Secret Doctrine# The ancient
Stoics !the very .onder/0l philosophy originating .ith so-e o/ the Bree2 philosophers1 and
.hich beca-e so deservedly pop0lar a-ong the deeper thin2ers o/ Ro-e" ta0ght that
everything in the 0niverse is inter-ingled or inter.oven1 not by /0nda-entally distinct
essences or entities interpenetrating each other1 nor in .hat theosophists today call @planes
o/ being1@ -erely1 b0t by vario0s aspects or di//erentiations o/ one co--on s0bstance1 the
root o/ all1 and they e3pressed the principle thro0gh the three Bree2 .ords1 2ra!i! diE
holou/ @a -ingling thro0gh everything1@ an interingling o/ all the essences in the cos-os1
arising o0t o/1 and di//erentiated /ro-1 the root's0bstance co--on to all# This is also the
teaching o/ the esoteric .isdo-# $t is the -ani/estation1 in other .ords1 o/ all beings5 o/ all
thin2ing1 0nthin2ing1 and senseless beings1 and o/ all the gods giving direction and p0rpose
to the co-ple3 0niverse .hich .e see aro0nd 0s today; and in this varied li/e .as placed the
pri-al ca0se o/ all the bea0ty1 the concord1 as .ell as the stri/e and discord that do e3ist in
nat0re1 and .hich is the ca0se o/ the so'called -ista2es that nat0re -a2es# The origin o/
.hat -any people call the @insolvable riddle@ o/ the @origin o/ evil#@ :hat is the @origin o/ evil@;
The ancient .isdo- says that it is -erely the con"lict o" will! o/ evolving beings ? an
inevitable and nece!!ar& phase o/ evol0tion#
roperly to 0nderstand this inter-ingling involves another i-portant s0b>ect o/ st0dy .hich
.e shall ta2e 0p at a later date1 and this is the doctrine o/ hierarchies# Aierarchy1 o/ co0rse1
-erely -eans that a sche-e or syste- or state o/ delegated directive po.er and a0thority
e3ists in a sel/'contained body1 directed1 g0ided1 and ta0ght by one having s0pre-e
a0thority1 called the hierarch# The na-e is 0sed in theosophy1 by e3tension o/ -eaning1 as
signi/ying the inn0-erable degrees1 grades1 and steps o/ evolving entities in the 2os-os1 and
as applying to all parts o/ the 0niverse; and rightly so1 beca0se every di//erent part o/ the
0niverse ? and their n0-ber is si-ply co0ntless ? is 0nder the vital governance o/ a divine
being1 o/ a god1 o/ a spirit0al essence1 and all -aterial -ani/estations are si-ply the
appearances on o0r plane o/ the .or2ings and actions o/ these spirit0al beings behind it# The
series o/ hierarchies e3tends in/initely in both directions# 7an -ay1 i/ he so choose /or
p0rposes o/ tho0ght1 consider hi-sel/ at the -iddle point1 /ro- .hich e3tends above hi- an
0nending series o/ steps 0pon steps o/ higher beings o/ all grades ? gro.ing constantly less
-aterial and -ore spirit0al1 and greater in all senses ? to.ards an ine//able point1 and there
the i-agination stops; not beca0se the series itsel/ stops1 b0t beca0se o0r tho0ght can reach
no /arther o0t or in# ,nd si-ilar to this series1 an in/initely great series o/ beings and states o/
beings descends do.n.ards !to 0se h0-an ter-s" ? do.n.ards and do.n.ards1 0ntil there
again the i-agination stops -erely beca0se o0r tho0ght can go no /arther#
The eternal action and interaction1 or .hat the Stoics also called the inter-ingling1 o/ these
beings prod0ce eternally the vario0s so'called planes o/ being1 and the action o/ the .ill o/
these beings on -atter or s0bstances is the -ani/estation o/ .hat .e call the la.s o/ nat0re#
This is a very inacc0rate and -isleading phrase; b0t it see-s >0sti/iable in a -etaphorical
sense1 beca0se as a h0-an legislator or a h0-an la.giver .ill set /orth or set do.n certain
r0les o/ cond0ct1 certain sche-es o/ action1 .hich are to be obeyed1 so the intelligences
behind the actions o/ nat0re do the sa-e thing1 not in a legislative .ay1 b0t by the action o/
their o.n spirit0al econo-y# So -an hi-sel/1 in si-ilar /ashion1 lays do.n the @la.s@ /or the
less lives .hich co-pose his essences ? the principles 0nder the center .hich he governs ?
and .hich co-prise even the physical body1 and the lives b0ilding it# Each one o/ these lives
is a -icrocos-ic 0niverse or cos-os1 that is to say1 an ordered entity1 an entity r0led by
inescapable or inel0ctable habit1 .hich o0r scientists1 applying the r0le to 0niversal cos-ical
action1 call the la.s o/ nat0re#
,nd they in t0rn1 these less lives1 have si-ilar 0niverses 0nder the-# $t is 0nthin2able that the
series can stop or have an end beca0se1 i/ it did1 .e sho0ld have an in/inity that ends1 an
0nthin2able proposition# $t is -erely the pa0city o/ o0r ideas and the /eebleness o/ o0r
i-agination .hich -a2e 0s to s0ppose that there -ay be a stop at certain points; and it is
this /eebleness o/ tho0ght .hich has given birth to and pro-oted the rise o/ the di//erent
religio0s syste-s; in one case the -onotheis- o/ the 6hristian 6h0rch1 and in another case
the -onotheis- o/ the 7oha--edan peoples1 and in another case still the -onotheis- o/
the Ee.ish people# 4/ these three1 the Ee.s have had the longest history and the .isest
history1 /or the Ee.s originally .ere never a -onotheistic people# $n their early history they
.ere convinced polytheists ? 0sing the ter- in the philosophical sense1 lest people i-agine
.hen they hear o/ polytheis- that it -eans o0r abs0rd -odern :estern -isconception o/
.hat .e thin2 the c0lt0red Ro-ans and Bree2s tho0ght abo0t their gods and goddesses1 or
.hat .e thin2 they o0ght to have believed1 .hich is conceited nonsense#
The pop0lar -ythology o/ the Bree2s and Ro-ans1 as also that o/ ancient Egypt or o/
%abylonia1 and that o/ the Ber-anic or 6eltic tribes o/ E0rope1 .as 0nderstood in a di//erent
.ay /ro- o0r gross -isconception o/ it; and conceived o/ in a di//erent .ay by the .ise -en
in those days1 .ho 0nderstood per/ectly .ell all the 0s0al sy-bols and allegories by .hich
the esoteric teachings .ere o0tlined and ta0ght in the pop0lar -ythologies# ,nd .e -0st
re-e-ber that @e3oteric@ does not necessarily -ean /alse# $t -eans only that in e3oteric
teachings the 2eys to the esoteric teachings have not been given o0t#
:e o/ten hear the clai- -ade by -onotheistic believers that the great @prophets@ o/ $srael1
the so'called .ise -en o/ that people1 2ne. better than their ancient predecessors .hat their
people o0ght to 2no. and believe# These prophets ta0ght -onotheis-1 .e are ass0red1 and
redirected the tho0ghts o/ the people a.ay /ro- the ancient belie/s ? indeed1 the -0ltiplicity
o/ belie/s ? to.ards one tribal Bod .ho- they called Eehovah1 a .ord1 by the .ay1 .hich the
later orthodo3 Ee.ish religionists held1 and still hold1 so sacred that they .o0ld not even
prono0nce it alo0d1 b0t in reading alo0d s0bstit0ted /or it another .ord .hen this .ord
Eehovah occ0rred in a sentence in the Ee.ish %ible# &o. this s0bstit0te .ord is )donai/ and
-eans @-y lords@ ? in itsel/ a tr0e con/ession o/ polytheistic tho0ght# E0dais- is replete in its
9a. or %ible1 at least1 .ith polytheis-; and so prone is the h0-an heart to /ollo. the instincts
o/ its spirit that .hen the 6hristian 6h0rch in its blindness overthre. philosophical polytheis-
as an error in religion1 the reaction1 /0lly to be e3pected as a conseI0ence1 very soon set in1
and that 6h0rch ans.ered the cry o/ the h0-an heart by s0bstit0ting @saints@ /or the in>0red
and banished gods and goddesses1 th0s ina0g0rating a c0lt0ral adoration o/ dead -en and
.o-en /or po.ers1 intelligences1 in nat0reK They had to give the- saints in order to s0pply
the places o/ the /orgotten deities; and even gave to these saints -ore or less the sa-e
po.ers that the ancient gods and goddesses .ere rep0ted to have e3ercised and to have
had# They had a saint as a patron or protector o/ city1 state1 or co0ntry5 St# Beorge /or
England1 St# Ea-es /or Spain1 St# =enis /or France1 and so on# The sa-e tho0ght1 the sa-e
/0nction1 the sa-e desire satis/ied ? the instincts o/ the h0-an heart cannot be ignored or
violated .ith i-p0nity# %0t ho. greatly di//erent .as the initiate vie. o/ the .ise -en in
pagan ti-esK
:hen the ancients spo2e o/ the -0ltiplicity o/ gods they did so .ith .isdo-1 0nderstanding1
and reverence# $s it conceivable that the great -en o/ the ancient days .ho then discovered
and established the canons o/ belie/ /ollo.ed by 0s ? 0s0ally ignorant o/ o0r great debt to
the- ? even today in all o0r lines o/ tho0ght1 and .hich .e val0e li2e little children and have
val0ed since the rebirth o/ literat0re in o0r :estern .orld ? is it conceivable1 $ say1 that they
had no conception o/ cos-ical or o/ divine 0nity1 so-ething .hich even the average -an o/
intelligence today .ill co-e to; Ao. abs0rdK &oK They co0ld thin21 and they 2ne. as .ell as
.e do1 b0t they also 2ne.1 yea1 even the degenerated thin2ers in the early ages o/ the
6hristian era1 that i/ @Bod@ -ade the .orld1 being a per/ect and in/inite %eing1 his .or2 !or its
.or2" co0ld be only a per/ect and in/inite .or21 .orthy o/ its per/ect and in/inite 7a2er1 /ree
/ro- vanity1 /ree /ro- li-itations1 /ree /ro- sin1 /ree /ro- decrepit0de and ceaseless1 gna.ing
change# Net1 as .e see and consider the things aro0nd 0s1 as .e 2no. that the .orld1 being
an e3e-plar o/ change and hence o/ li-itations and decay1 there/ore cannot be and is not
in/inite1 .e 2no. ? the instincts o/ o0r being tell 0s ? that it is the .or2 o/ less beings1 o/
-inor and li-ited po.ers1 ho.ever e3alted spirit0ally# ,nd as .e penetrate into o0r o.n
tho0ghts and st0dy the li/e o/ the beings and o/ the nat0re aro0nd 0s1 .e see also that there
is li/e within li/e1 .heel within .heel1 p0rpose within p0rpose1 and that behind the o0t.ard
-ani/estations or action !the @la.s o/ nat0re@" o/ the so'called gods1 there are still -ore s0btil
po.ers1 still -ore e3alted intelligences at .or2 ? verily1 .heels .ithin .heels1 lives .ithin
lives1 and so on /orever ? an 0nending and bo0ndless 0nity in -0ltiplicity1 and -0ltiplicity
li-itless and 0nbo0nded in 0nity# So1 as said be/ore1 .hen .e spea2 o/ the 0nity o/ li/e1 or o/
the @divine 0nity1@ .e -erely -ean that here o0r penetrating spirit has reached the li-it o/ its
present po.ers1 a point at .hich h0-an tho0ght can go no /arther# $t has r0n to its 0t-ost
li-its1 and /ro- the /eebleness o/ it .e are bo0nd in tr0th to say5 here is as /ar as o0r tho0ght
can go# $t is o0r present @Ring called 8ass &otK8@ %0t this honest con/ession o/ h0-an
li-itation does not -ean that there is @nothing@ beyond# 4n the contrary1 it is a proo/ that li/e
and space are endless#
&o. the &eoplatonists .ho ca-e into pro-inence in the early cent0ries o/ the 6hristian era ?
and .ho1 .ith the Stoics1 provided 6hristianity .ith -ost o/ .hat it had that .as
philosophically good and spirit0al and tr0e ? ta0ght that the s0--it1 the ac-e1 the /lo.er1 the
highest point !that they called the hypar3is" o/ any series o/ ani-ate and @inani-ate@ beings1
.hether .e en0-erate the stages or degrees o/ the series as seven or ten or t.elve1 .as the
@divine 0nity@ "or that !erie! or hierarch&/ and that this hypar3is or /lo.er or s0--it or
beginning or highest being .as again in its t0rn the lowe!t 6eing o" the hierarch& a6o4e
it/ and so e3tending on.ards /or ever#
6hange .ithin change1 .heel .ithin .heel1 each hierarchy -ani/esting one /acet o/ the
divine cos-ic li/e1 each hierarchy sho.ing /orth one tho0ght1 as it .ere1 o/ the divine thin2ers#
Bood and evil are relative1 and rigidly o//set and eI0ilibrate each other# There is
no a6!olute good1 there is no a6!olute evil; these are -ere h0-an ter-s only# @Evil@ in any
sphere o/ li/e is i%er"ection1 /or it# @Bood@ in any sphere o/ li/e is %er"ection/ /or it# %0t the
good o/ one is the evil o/ another1 beca0se the latter is the shado. o/ so-ething higher
above it#
E0st as light and dar2ness are not absol0te b0t relative things# :hat is dar2ness; =ar2ness
is absence o/ light1 and the light that .e 2no. is itsel/ the -ani/estation o/ li/e in -atter ?
hence a -aterial pheno-enon# Each is !physically" a /or- o/ vibration1 each is1 there/ore1 a
/or- o/ li/e#
Fario0s na-es .ere given to these hierarchies considered as series o/ beings# For instance1
let 0s ta2e the standard and generaliDed Bree2 hierarchy as sho.n by .riters in periods
preceding the rise o/ 6hristianity1 tho0gh the &eoplatonists1 as .e have seen1 had their o.n
hierarchies1 and gave the stages or degrees thereo/ special na-es# $t is o/ten asserted by
those people .ho 2no. everything ? $ -ean the big.igs o/ the -odern day1 .ho even
believe that they 2no. better .hat the ancients believed than the ancients did the-selves ?
that &eoplatonis- .as evolved -erely to oppose and overthro.1 and to ta2e the place o/ the
.onder/0l1 so0l'saving1 spirit0al doctrines o/ 6hristianity1 /orgetting that /ro- &eoplatonis-
and &eopythagoreanis-1 and Stoicis-1 early 6hristianity dre. nearly everything o/ religio0s
and philosophic good that it had in it# %0t the &eoplatonic doctrine .as1 in sober /act1 act0ally
the setting /orth to a certain degree onl& o/ the esoteric doctrine o/ the latonic school and
.as1 in its esoteric reach1 the teaching .hich lato and the early ythagoreans ta0ght
secretly to their disciples#
:e no. res0-e o0r thread# The hypar3is1 as .e sho.ed1 -eans the s0--it or beginning o/
a hierarchy# The sche-e started .ith the divine1 the highest point o/ the series or its divinity5
!1" =ivine; !2" Bods1 or the spirit0al; !3" =e-igods1 so-eti-es called divine heroes1 involving
a very -ystical doctrine; !*" Aeroes proper; !(" 7en; !C" %easts or ani-als; !7" Fegetable
.orld; !+" 7ineral .orld; !9" Ele-ental .orld1 or .hat .as called the real- o/ Aades# ,s said1
the divinity !or aggregate divine lives" itsel/ .as the hypar3is o/ this series o/ hierarchies1
beca0se each o/ these nine stages .as itsel/ a s0bordinate hierarchy# The na-es -ean little1
yo0 -ay give the- other na-es; the i-portant thing is to get the tho0ght# &o.1 as said
be/ore1 re-e-ber that this esoteric .isdo- ta0ght that this !or any other" hierarchy o/ nine1
hangs li2e a pendant >e.el /ro- the lo.est hierarchy above it1 .hich -ade the tenth co0nting
0p.ards1 .hich .e can call1 i/ yo0 li2e1 the s0perdivine1 the hyperheavenly1 and that this
tenth .as the lo.est stage !or the ninth1 co0nting do.n.ards" o/ still another hierarchy
e3tending 0p.ards; and so on1 inde/initely#
&o. .hen the 6hristians /inally overthre. the ancient religion1 .hen the 2ar-ic cycle had
bro0ght abo0t an era o/ .hat lato called spirit0al barrenness ? and .e re-e-ber to divide
the .or2 o/ evol0tion into t.o parts1 epochs o/ barrenness and epochs o/ /ertility ? .hen the
6hristian religion ca-e in as part o/ an epoch o/ barrenness1 the 6hristians too2 over very
-0ch o/ this ancient tho0ght1 as .as only to be e3pected5 history -erely repeated itsel/# ,nd
they derived it1 as .as said be/ore1 -ainly /ro- the Stoics and the &eopythagoreans and the
&eoplatonists1 b0t -ostly /ro- the &eoplatonists# This .as done in very large part at
,le3andria1 the great center o/ Bree2 or Aellenistic c0lt0re at that ti-e; the chie/est thin2ers
o/ the &eoplatonists also lived in ,le3andria# This &eoplatonic strea- o/ bea0ti/0l tho0ght in
the 6hristian religion entered into it .ith special /orce aro0nd the /i/th cent0ry1 thro0gh the
.ritings o/ a -an .ho .as called =ionysi0s the ,reopagite1 /ro- the @Aill o/ ,res@ or 7ars at
,thens# The 6hristian legend r0ns that .hen a0l preached at ,thens1 he did so on 7ars Aill
or the ,reopag0s1 and that one o/ his /irst converts .as a Bree2 called =ionysi0s; and
6hristian tradition goes on to say that he .as1 later1 the /irst 6hristian %ishop o/ ,thens# &o.
this -ay all be /able# Ao.ever1 the 6hristians clai-ed it as a /act#
$n the /i/th or si3th cent0ry1 /ive h0ndred years -ore or less a/ter a0l is s0pposed to have
preached in ,thens1 there appeared in the Bree2 .orld a .or2 calling itsel/ the .ritings o/
=ionysi0s the ,reopagite ? clai-ing a0thorship /ro- this sa-e -an# $t is evidently the .or2
o/ a &eoplatonist'6hristian# That is to say1 o/ a 6hristian .ho1 /or reasons o/ his o.n1
perhaps policy !social or /inancial"1 re-ained .ithin the 6hristian 6h0rch1 b0t .as -ore or
less a Bree2 pagan1 a &eoplatonist at heart# This .or21 by co-ing o0t 0nder the nae o/ the
/irst !alleged" %ishop o/ ,thens1 =ionysi0s1 al-ost i--ediately began to have i--ense
vog0e in the 6hristian 6h0rch; and it re-ains to this day1 not indeed one o/ the canonical
.or2s1 b0t one o/ the .or2s .hich the 6hristians consider a-ong the greatest they have on
-ystical lines1 and perhaps their -ost spirit0al .or2# $t very deeply a//ected 6hristian
theological tho0ght /ro- the ti-e o/ its appearance#
4ne o/ the .or2s co-prised in this boo21 attrib0ted by the 6hristians the-selves to
=ionysi0s1 a0l8s /irst convert in ,thens1 is a treatise on the =ivine Aierarchies1 in .hich the
teaching is that Bod is in/inite and there/ore did the .or2 o/ creation thro0gh less abstract
and spirit0al beings; and a sche-e o/ hierarchies is here set /orth1 one lo.er than another1
one derived /ro- the other ? .hich is e3actly the teaching in the Gabbalah; .hich also is
e3actly the teaching o/ the &eoplatonists and essentially that o/ the Stoics1 and o/ the old
Bree2 -ythology# $t is a pagan teaching thro0gho0t1 and -erely beca-e 6hristianiDed
beca0se adapted to the ne. religion1 and beca0se 6hristian na-es are 0sed5 instead o/
saying and en0-erating gods1 divine heroes1 de-igods or heroes1 -en1 and ani-als1 etc#1
the na-es are Bod1 ,rchangels1 Thrones1 o.ers1 etc# %0t the sche-atic or essential
tho0ght is the sa-e# F0rther-ore1 there are act0ally passages in the .or2s o/ this =ionysi0s
.hich are ta2en .ord /or .ord1 .holesale1 /ro- the .ritings o/ the &eoplatonist lotin0s1 .ho
lived and /lo0rished and .rote vol0-ino0sly on &eoplatonic s0b>ects in the third cent0ry#
&o. this .or21 partic0larly in the /ield o/ dog-atic ecclesiastical tho0ght1 /or-ed the basis o/
-0ch o/ the theology o/ the Bree2 and Ro-an 6h0rches; .e -ay even say that on it their
-edieval theology .as act0ally based# $t /or-ed the -ain so0rce o/ the st0dies and .ritings
o/ the $talian Tho-as ,I0inas !13th cent0ry"1 one o/ the greatest -edieval doctors o/ the
6hristian religion1 and o/ Eohannes Scot0s1 called Erigena1 an $rish-an !9th cent0ry"1 and
probably o/ =0ns Scot0s !13th cent0ry"1 a re-ar2able Scot; and o/ -any -ore# Spenser1
Sha2espeare1 and 7ilton1 to spea2 only o/ English literat0re1 are /0ll o/ the spirit o/ these
.ritings# They provided -0ch o/ the -ystical tho0ght o/ the =ar2 ,ges1 and 0lti-ately in a
degenerate /or- helped to give rise to the hairsplitting and I0ibbling and sI0abbles o/ the
I0asi'religio0s .riters 2no.n as the School-en# %0t these -en had lost the inner sense or
heart o/ the thing thro0gh the ecclesiastical gro.th and political po.er o/ the 6hristian
6h0rch1 and they began to arg0e abo0t things o/ no spirit0al conseI0ence .hatever1 s0ch
as5 .hich ca-e /irst1 the hen or the egg; or1 ho. -any angels can dance on the point o/ a
needle; or1 i/ an irresistible /orce -eets an i--ovable obstacle1 .hat then happens; These
-ost prag-atical and 0se/0l diversions and intellect0al vagaries lasted /or a certain ti-e1 and
then1 .ith the renaissance o/ tho0ght in E0rope1 d0e largely to the labors o/ the devotees o/
science and nat0ral philosophy1 the E0ropean .orld grad0ally began to p0ll o0t o/ this -ental
slo0gh1 and bro0ght in an era .hich is no. in /0ll and strong c0rrent1 and .hich has
ina0g0rated and contin0ed /or good or /or ill !perhaps both" the strea-s o/ h0-an thin2ing as
.e see it today#
$n concl0sion1 .e -ay call attention to the /act that >0st abo0t the ti-e .hen the /irst (1)))
years o/ the Aind0 cycle called the 2ali y0ga !lasting *321)))" ca-e to an end1 there also
ca-e to an end a certain @7essianic@ cycle o/ t.enty'one h0ndred years ? !act0ally1 i/ .e
co-e to e3act /ig0res1 211C)"1 .hich is1 note .ell1 >0st one hal/ o/ the Aind0'%abylonian root'
cycle o/ *132) years#
hapter $even
Aierarchies5 4ne o/ the 9ost <eys o/ the Esoteric hilosophy# The ythagorean
Sacred Tetra2tys# The 9adder o/ 9i/e5 The 9egend o/ ad-apani#
Theophilosophy proceeds on broader lines# Fro- the very beginning o/ ,Eons ? in ti-e
and space in o0r Ro0nd and Blobe ? the 7ysteries o/ &at0re !at any rate1 those .hich it
is la./0l /or o0r races to 2no." .ere recorded by the p0pils o/ those sa-e no. invisible
@heavenly -en1@ in geo-etrical /ig0res and sy-bols# The 2eys thereto passed /ro- one
generation o/ @.ise -en@ to the other# So-e o/ the sy-bols1 th0s passed /ro- the east to
the .est1 .ere bro0ght there/ro- by ythagoras1 .ho .as not the inventor o/ his /a-o0s
@Triangle#@ The latter /ig0re1 along .ith the plane c0be and circle1 are -ore eloI0ent and
scienti/ic descriptions o/ the order o/ the evol0tion o/ the Universe1 spirit0al and psychic1
as .ell as physical1 than vol0-es o/ descriptive 6os-ogonies and
revealed>'ene!e!+> The ten %oint! inscribed .ithin that @ythagoreantriangle> are .orth
all the theogonies and angelologies ever e-anated /ro- the theological brain# For he .ho
interprets the- ? on their very /ace1 and in the order given ? .ill /ind in these seventeen
points !the seven 7athe-atical oints hidden" the 0ninterr0pted series o/ the genealogies
/ro- the /irst .ea4enl& toterre!trial -an# ,nd1 as they give the order o/ %eings1 so they
reveal the order in .hich .ere evolved the <os-os1 o0r earth1 and the pri-ordial
ele-ents by .hich the latter .as generated# %egotten in the invisible De%th!1 and in the
.o-b o/ the sa-e @7other@ as its /ello.'globes ? he .ho .ill -aster the -ysteries o/ o0r
Earth1 .ill have -astered those o/ all others# ? The Secret Doctrine/ $1 C12'13
>0t i! that 9$BAT which conden!e! into the "or! o" the E<ord! o" 9eingE ? the "ir!t and the
highe!t o" which are/ collecti4el&/E$F,T7,1 or $rat&agata !said /ig0ratively to iss0e /ro-
ara-at-a# $t is the 9ogos o/ the Bree2 philosophers ? appearing at the beginning o/
every ne. 7anvantara"# Fro the!e downward! ? "ored "ro the e4er1con!olidating
wa4e! o" that light/ which 6ecoe! on the o6Aecti4e %lane gro!! atter? %roceed
the nuerou! hierarchie! o" the *reati4e Force!/ !oe "orle!!1 other! ha4ing their own
di!tincti4e "or/ other!/ again1 the lowe!t D#leental!B/ ha4ing no "or o" their own/ 6ut
a!!uing e4er& "or according to the !urrounding condition!+> ? $bid#1 $$1 33'*
:E 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/vol0-e $1 page 27*5
The .hole <os-os is g0ided1 controlled1 and ani-ated by al-ost endless series o/
Aierarchies o/ sentient %eings1 each having a -ission to per/or-1 and .ho ? .hether .e
give to the- one na-e or another1 and call the- =hyan'6hohans or ,ngels ? are
@-essengers@ in the sense only that they are the agents o/ <ar-ic and 6os-ic 9a.s#
They vary in/initely in their respective degrees o/ conscio0sness and intelligence; and to
call the- all p0re Spirits .itho0t any o/ the earthly alloy @.hich ti-e is .ont to prey 0pon@
is only to ind0lge in poetical /ancy# For each o/ these %eings eitherwa!/ or prepares to
beco-e1 a -an1 i/ not in the present1 then in a past or a co-ing cycle !7anvantara"#
:hen .e ended o0r st0dy last .ee21 .e le/t 0n-entioned a n0-ber o/ very i-portant things1
.hich .e shall have to ta2e 0p this evening# First1 a /e. .ords -ore concerning the neb0lar
theory or hypothesis and the planetary theory deriving /ro- it1 as considered /ro- the
theosophical standpoint1 and conseI0ently a /0rther e3planation or rather develop-ent o/ the
doctrine o/ hierarchies1 .hich .ill lead 0s to the st0dy to.ards .hich .e have ai-ed1 that is
to say1 the consideration o/ cos-ogony or the beginning o/ .orlds as o0tlined in the Ee.ish
%oo2 o/ Benesis or %eginnings#
,bo0t one h0ndred years ago1 -ore or less .ithin a /e. years o/ each other1 there died three
re-ar2able -en1 na-ely <ant1 perhaps the greatest philosopher that E0rope has prod0ced;
Sir :illia- Aerschel1 the astrono-er; and the 7arI0is de 9aplace; the /irst a Ber-an1 the
second an ,nglo'Ber-an1 and the third a French-an# ,ll these three -en in so-e degree
.ere responsible /or the en0nciation and the develop-ent o/ the theory o/ .orld'beginning
.hich event0ated in the neb0lar hypothesis o/ 9aplace# $t is interesting also to note that all
three -en .ere o/ h0-ble birth1 and by the /orce o/ their o.n intelligence and character
beca-e1 all three o/ the-1 re-ar2able -en# <ant .as1 $ believe1 the son o/ a saddler; Sir
:illia- Aerschel .as also o/ h0-ble origin1 and .as in yo0th an oboist in the Aanoverian
B0ards; and ierre Si-on 9aplace .as the son o/ a /ar-er; 9aplace .as ennobled1 and 0pon
hi- .as con/erred the nobiliary title o/ -arI0is#
&o. the neb0lar theory really originated .ith <ant; he it .as .ho laid do.n the basic lines1
the /0nda-ental gro0nd1 as it .ere1 0pon .hich the theory .as later developed
-athe-atically by 9aplace# 6oincident .ith <ant8s .or2 and .ritings .as the astrono-ical
.or2 o/ Aerschel in England1 and those t.o -en .ere responsible /or the /0nda-entals o/
the neb0lar theory# 9aplace too2 it 0p a/ter they had -ore or less laid do.n the -ain lines1
developed it into .hat is called the neb0lar hypothesis or theory o/ 9aplace1 and on acco0nt
o/ its e3plaining in -athe-atical /or- the -echanis- o/ the 0niverse1 that is to say1 o/ the
solar syste- and the planets and their satellites1 it has been called a @-agni/icently
a0dacio0s@ hypothesis# $t .as 9aplace .ho carried the theory a good deal /arther than the
.or2 o/ <ant and Aerschel; and1 in a sense1 9aplace -aterialiDed it# ,s A# # %lavats2y tells
0s1 i/ the neb0lar theory had re-ained at the point .here <ant and Aerschel had le/t it1 there
.o0ld be little /or the theosophical .riters and thin2ers to do e3cept to develop it and e3plain
it in accordance .ith the esoteric philosophy#
$t is very interesting to note that another great -an1 S.edenborg in S.eden1 also .or2ed
0pon the sa-e theory and apparently had very nearly the sa-e ideas that <ant and Aerschel
had as regards a neb0lar genesis o/ cos-ical syste-s# &o. these t.o latter -en had a
spirit0al idea bac2 o/ the theory .hich they en0nciated1 and it .as the abandon-ent o/ that
spirit0al idea by 9aplace1 and the s0bstit0tion by hi- o/ a -echanico'-athe-atical theory in
its place1 .hich /0rnished those in/l0ences .hich directed the neb0lar hypothesis a.ay /ro-
the line and tho0ght and teachings as laid do.n in the esoteric philosophy1 as ta0ght by the
ancient teachers#
The neb0lar hypothesis has in so-e respects been -0ch changed since the day o/ 9aplace;
scientists have tho0ght -ore abo0t it1 a /act .hich .as also tr0e in 1++7 or 1+++ .hen A# #
%lavats2y .rote The Secret Doctrine+ There has been an atte-pt by later astrono-ers o/ o0r
o.n day1 Sir &or-an 9oc2yer and the ,-erican astrono-er and -athe-atician See1 to
replace a neb0lar origin o/ cos-ical bodies1 at least in part1 .ith .hat has been called a
planetesi-al hypothesis or a planetesi-al origin ? that is to say1 that the bodies o/ the solar
syste- have been b0ilt 0p o/ and by cos-ic d0st and tiny planets dra.n together by the /orce
o/ gravitation# &o. this theory is1 philosophically spea2ing1 at an i--ense distance /ro- the
teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy1 altho0gh this philosophy does ad-it and teach that at a
later stage in the evol0tion o/ cos-ical bodies collection and concretion o/ stellar d0st is1
act0ally1 one o/ the phases in the gro.th o/ .orlds#
Theosophy ad-its that a planet or a solar syste-1 in the co0rse o/ its /or-ation1 does gather
to itsel/ stard0st and vagrant bodies dispersed in space; b0t this /actor in its gro.th is not its
origin# The origin o/ a s0n1 o/ a solar syste- and o/ the planets in it1 and conseI0ently o/ the
entire 0niverse .ithin the encircling Done o/ the 7il2y :ay1 has a spirit0al bac2gro0nd1 has
spirit0al essences or gods behind it1 .ho /or- s0ch a syste- and direct it1 and are the
-echanicians in it and o/ it# Their .or2 is carried on !-ore or less" along the -ain lines o/ the
neb0lar theory as en0nciated by <ant and Aerschel5 that is to say1 space is eternally /illed
.ith -atter in a certain state or condition o/ being1 and .hen this -atter1 as <ant and
Aerschel .o0ld have said1 receives the divine i-p0lse1 it is concreted and beco-es
l0-ino0s1 and this concretion is /0rther !and later" strengthened by its dra.ing into itsel/1 /ro-
the i--ense spacial e3panse in .hich it is1 -aterial stard0st and larger bodies#
:hen .e loo2 0p at the s2y .e see -aterial bodies1 /o0rth'plane bodies seen .ith o0r /o0rth'
plane eyes1 b0t behind these /o0rth'plane bodies there are spirit0al intelligences1 .hich are
called in the esoteric philosophy1dh&an1chohan!/ or @lords o/ -editation#@ ,s the ancients p0t
it1 every celestial body is an @ani-al#@ &o. the .ord ani-al co-es /ro- the 9atin1 and -eans
a living being# 6o--only1 in speech1 .e spea2 o/ ani-als .hen .e sho0ld say beasts or
br0tes; that is1 a br0te is an entity .hich has not yet been raised to the level o/ a !el"1
con!ciou! entity; it is 6rute in the original 9atin sense1 i#e#1 @heavy1@ @gross1@ hence irrational
and inco-plete; it is not yet /inished# %0t an anial really -eans a living being1 and in that
sense the .ord applies to h0-an beings#
9i2e.ise1 in the vie. o/ the ancients1 it applies to the stellar1 solar1 and planetary bodies ?
they are ani-als in the sense o/ being living things1 .ith a physical corp0s or body1 b0t
nevertheless ani-ate or inso0led5 in the -ystical teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy they
are inso0led things1 as indeed every ato- is1 every tiny 0niverse1 or tiny cos-os#
&o. this inso0ling is done by !or is the action o/" .hat is co--only called hierarchies# There
is not /or every individ0al entity in 2os-os1 .hether ato-1 beast1 -an1 god1 planet1 or s0n1
one concreted so0l1 as it .ere1 derived /ro- the 0niversal .orld'so0l1 .ith nothing ? no
connecting lin2s ? above it and nothing belo. it; not at all# There are no tr0e vacancies in
nat0re1 physical1 astral1 or spirit0al; there are no vac00-s# Everything is lin2ed on to
everything else1 by literally co0ntless bonds o/ 0nion1 .hich is another -aster 2ey to the
teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy# ,s in -an1 so in every other 0nit o/ being1 in every other
entity1 the 0niversal li/e -ani/ests thro0gh a hierarchy; the -0lti/or- and varied I0alities o/
beings are b0t the li/e'rays o/ a hierarchy1 that is to say1 grades or steps o/ conscio0sness
and -atter1 ascending /ro- belo. 0p.ard or1 i/ yo0 li2e1 co-ing do.n.ards /ro- above1
thro0gh all o/ .hich the center o/ conscio0sness ? call it so0l or ego /or the -o-ent ? -0st
pass in its evol0tion to.ards godhood#
This teaching o/ hierarchies is /0nda-ental# $t is one o/ the present'day @lost 2eys@ o/ the
esoteric philosophy# &othing can be 0nderstood adeI0ately .itho0t a clear co-prehension o/
it# ,s -an is in o0r ordinary psychology considered to be a triad or a tri/or- entity ? body1
so0l1 and spirit ? so he -ay be considered /ro- another point o/ vie. as a /o0r/old entity1 or
as a /ive/old1 a si3/old1 or a seven/old1 or !the -ost esoteric o/ all" as a ten/old entity#
:hy ten; %eca0se ten is the 2ey n0-ber .hich e3plains the co-po0nd /abric o/ the
0niverse# The 0niverse is b0ilt on a denary scale1 that is1 on a scale co0nting by tens# $n a
/e. -o-ents .e shall develop in o0tline the philosophical i-port o/ seven and ten# 9et 0s
say no. that -an is septenary in o0r vie. only beca0se .e rec2on in1 as principles1 t.o
ele-ents o/ his being .hich are not1 strictly spea2ing1huan principles5 one1 the physical
body .hich really is not a @principle@ at all; it is -erely a ho0se1 his @carrier@ in another sense1
and no -ore belongs to -an ? e3cept that he has e3creted it1 thro.n it o0t /ro- hi-sel/ ?
than does the ho0se in .hich his body lives# Ae is a co-plete h0-an being .itho0t it#
The second strictly nonh0-an principle is the highest o/ all the seven1 the higher sel/1 the
at-an1 the seventh ? nonh0-an beca0se it is uni4er!al+The !el" no -ore belongs to -e than
to yo0 or to anyone else# Sel/hood is the sa-e in all beings# %0t beyond the at-an1 there is
the ara-at-an1 .hich .e have brie/ly st0died be/ore1 the s0pre-e sel/# The at-an is1 as it
.ere1 the star o/ o0r o.n sel/'iss0e1 the root o/ o0r sel/hood1 the point .here .e cling1 as it
.ere1 to the Aighest# $/ .e can conceive o/ an ocean o/ s0perspirit0al ether1 so to spea21 and
in that ocean ? call it conscio0sness ? a vorte31 a laya'center1 a point1 a ri-ordial oint1
.hence the si3 principles belo. it /lo. /orth into concrete -ani/estation thro0gh its vehicles ?
the so0ls or egos ? .e obtain a very cr0de conception o/ the root o/ o0r being# $t is the
at-an1 the channel or spirit0al point .here the s0perspirit0al brea2s1 as it .ere1 /ro- and
thro0gh a barrier do.n.ards into individ0aliDed li/e# This process .e shall -ore /0lly e3plain
later1 and shall then ill0strate it by diagra-#
&o. this -atter o/ hierarchies is dealt .ith in the di//erent .orld religions virt0ally in the sa-e
-anner b0t 0nder di//erent na-es and in di//erent paradig-atic sche-es# For instance1 yo0
can thin2 o/ the ten parts or grades or steps o/ a hierarchy as one 0nder the other1 li2e the
/loors in a ho0se or li2e the /lats in an apart-ent ho0se1 a very gross si-ile1 it is tr0e1 b0t
having the advantage o/ s0ggesting steps or planes1 and o/ s0ggesting high and lo.# :e can
thin2 o/ a hierarchy in another1 -ore s0btil1 -anner1 as consisting in triads o/ spheres1 or
living centers1 three triads hanging /ro- the tenth or highest point; and that highest center is1
as already e3plained1 the point beyond .hich o0r tho0ght and i-agination can soar no
higher1 and .e -erely say that this center is the highest that the h0-an intellect can reach#
%0t .e 2no. that beyond this tenth .hich is o0r highest there is also the lo.est center or
plane o/ another hierarchy still higher /ro- .hich o0r hierarchy hangs as a pendant; and so
on endlessly# :e cannot say o/ in/inity that it begins here and ends there5 i/ this .ere so1 it
.o0ld not be in/inite1 it .o0ld not be bo0ndless# 40r doctrine o/ 0niversal li/e1 o/ 0niversal
conscio0sness1 o/ one 0niversal @la.@ .or2ing every.here1 -eans that that @la.@ -ani/ests
in every ato-1 and in every part o/ 0niversal being1 and in all directions1 and /or all d0ration1
and in the sa-e -anner every.here1 beca0se it cannot -ani/est in radically diverse .ays; i/
so1 it .o0ld be -any /0nda-ental @la.s@ and not one @la.#@
For instance1 in o0r last st0dy .e considered the hierarchy o/ the &eoplatonic philosophy1
.hich is really the esoteric teaching o/ ancient Breece in the /or- that lato gave to it# ,nd
there .ere nine stages1 nine degrees1 hanging1 as it .ere1 /ro- the top-ost1 the spirit0al s0n
or the central s0n# :e can conceive o/ these hierarchies as seven concentric circles aro0nd
and deriving /ro- a central point1 the highest triad1 .hich .e can call the in/inite or the
ri-ordial oint; or1 again1 .e can call this ri-ordial oint the at-an or sel/ o/ the thin2ing
entity1 -an1 and then the other spheres or circles o/ being aro0nd hi- .ill stand /or his si3
other principles1 so-e.hat in this /ashion5
This is one .ay o/ representing a h0-an individ0al hierarchy1 the di//erent spheres or
concentric circles1 si3 o/ the-1 all /lo.ing /orth /ro- the center1 or seventh ele-ent1 the sel/#
,ll hierarchies are divided into seven1 nine1 or ten# The reason /or this is a I0estion that .e
shall have to go into by and by# There is no need to represent all these -ethods or
paradig-atic sche-es1 b0t the idea is the sa-e in all# ,nother .ay o/ representing a
hierarchy by paradig- is by li2e lines1 ten o/ the-1 in this .ay5
or by representing the nine stages or spheres as three triads on three planes1 and the tenth
on its o.n /o0rth plane5
:e have st0died the syste- o/ the &eoplatonic hierarchies in brie/ o0tline; and1 i/ .e have
ti-e1 .e shall ta2e 0p this evening t.o other paradig-atic sche-es by .hich hierarchies are
vario0sly represented# 9et 0s call earnest attention here to the i-portant /act1 be/ore going
/arther1 that these sche-es1 these paradig-atic representations on a /lat s0r/ace1
do not-ean that the grades or steps or planes o/ being are either /lat s0r/aces1 or are li2e
nests o/ bo3es; they -erely sho. by analogy1 by hints1 the relations and the /0nctions o/ the
grades a-ong the-selves#
$t is obvio0s to any thin2ing -an that the hierarchies o/ being do not rise one above another
li2e the /loors o/ a ho0se# $t is perhaps tr0e that all over the .orld they are so represented by
di//erent syste-s; b0t this is -erely to sho. that there is a high and a lo.1 a !erie! o/
conditions or states o/ spirit and -atter# E0st as .e .o0ld teach children1 so the ancient
teachers ta0ght 0s1 in si-ple .ays# &or are .e to i-agine that the hierarchies act0ally
e3tend so-e.here in space in the /or- o/ triangles or circles# :e represent the- in this .ay
in order to sho. their inter-ingling relations and their interpenetrating /0nctions a-ong each
other# :hy1 ho.ever1 do .e separate the grades into triads; %eca0se certain ones o/ these
grades or planes are -ore nearly related1 inter-ingle -ore easily1 /0nction -ore easily
together1 since their conditions or states are -ore closely a2in# !1" The /irst triad1 the highest;
!2" the inter-ediate; !3" the lo.est triad; and all overshado.ing the corp0s1 the physical
body# 4r .e can ta2e another sche-e1 and have the three lo.est centers /or-ing the botto-
triad; the three inter-ediate centers ne3t; and then the three highest; all the three triads
hanging /ro- a point1 the ri-ordial oint1 @Bod1@ i/ yo0 li2e#
&o. let 0s consider the I0estion5 Aave the 6hristians a hierarchy in their theology; They
have; and by this $ -ean that the 6hristians had one1 apparently /ro- the earliest ti-es1 till
the nat0ral resiliency o/ the h0-an -ind began to e3ert itsel/ in rebellion against the
dog-atis- and -aterialiDation o/ the 6hristian teaching .hich reached its cli-a3 in the
epoch preceding the renaissance o/ tho0ght1 .hen the discoveries o/ science /reed the
h0-an -ind /ro- its dog-atic shac2les# &evertheless1 0p till that ti-e this teaching o/
hierarchies controlling living beings /lo0rished in the 6hristian 6h0rch1 and it originated in the
/or- it then had1 as .e pointed o0t in o0r last st0dy1 in the .ritings o/ =ionysi0s the
,reopagite# 4ne o/ his .or2s .as called -n the *ele!tial .ierarch&/and it sho.ed ho. all
spirit0al being .as divided into a hierarchy o/ ten degrees or stages1 the tenth or highest
being Bod# This -ystic .riter /ollo.ed this .or2 .ith another called -n the #ccle!ia!tical
.ierarch&/and he clai-ed as a good 6hristian1 or in order to please his good 6hristian /riends
? there is every reason to believe that he copied the hierarchical sche-e o/ the &eoplatonic
philosophy1 .hich .as p0rely pagan1 o/ co0rse ? that on earth the celestial hierarchy .as
reenacted or re/lected or repeated in an ecclesiastical hierarchy1 .hich .as the 6hristian
6h0rch1 topped by Ees0s as the highest representative thereo/ and as the @9ogos o/ Bod#@
:hat .ere the na-es that =ionysi0s gave to the grades or stages o/ his hierarchy; First1
Bod1 as the s0--it1 the =ivine Spirit; then ca-e the Seraphi-; then the 6her0bi-; then the
Thrones1 /or-ing the /irst triad# Then =o-inations1 Firt0es1 o.ers1 /or-ing the second triad#
Then rincipalities1 then ,rchangels1 then ,ngels1 the third triad co0nting do.n.ard#
$t is interesting to note that this hierarchy is syncretistic1 that is1 co-posite1 ta2en /ro-
di//erent so0rces and b0ilt 0p into a 0nity# Seraphi- and 6her0bi- are /ro- the Aebre.# This
pl0ral .ord Sera%hi co-es /ro- a Aebre. root -eaning to @b0rn .ith /ire1@ hence1 to be
in/la-ed .ith love#*heru6i is a c0rio0s .ord1 b0t scholars generally thin2 that it -eans
@/or-s#@ The Seraphi- are -ystically believed to be red in color1 and the 6her0bi- dar2 bl0e#
The Thrones1 the =o-inations1 the Firt0es1 the o.ers1 the rincipalities1 are all ta2en /ro-
the 6hristian teachings o/ a0l in the Epistles1 Ephesians 15211 and 6olossians 151C1 and are
distinctly -ystic# The t.o last1 the ,rchangels and the ,ngels1 are not at all 6hristian in their
origin1 b0t are derived in indirect and tort0o0s descent /ro- the ancient Bree2 and ,siatic ?
especially old ersian ? syste- o/ tho0ght .hich recogniDed -essengers or -inisters or
trans-itters bet.een -an and the spirit0al .orld; the Bree2 .ord angelo! !angel" originally
-eant @-essenger1@ and the highest type o/ these .ere called ,rchangels1 or ,ngels o/ the
highest degree#
The /a0lt1 or rather inadeI0acy1 o/ this 6hristian syste- is that its highest point reached no
higher than this Bod here1 a -odi/ication on Bree2 lines o/ the Ee.ish Eehovah; and it .ent
no /arther belo. in reach or e3tent than -an hi-sel/# The $ne//able1 Unthin2able1 on the one
hand1 and the i--eas0rable spheres o/ beings belo. -an1 on the other hand1 are ignored# $t
.as -erely a chapter torn o0t o/ the ancient .isdo- and ta2en over into 6hristianity; b0t
s-all and i-per/ect as it .as1 it provided 6hristianity .ith all the -ysticis- and spirit0aliDing
tho0ght that saved it /ro- 0tter -aterialis- in religion d0ring the 7iddle ,ges#
9et 0s no. ta2e 0p another hierarchy1 the Ee.ish sche-e o/ the Gabbalah# No0 see that
there are nine degrees here1 nine degrees all pendant /ro- the s0pre-e sel/ or Bod# &o.
the Ee.ish Gabbalistic hierarchy1 or hierarchies1 or syste- o/ hierarchies1 is an o0tgro.th o/
the teachings and thin2ings o/ the Ee.ish doctors or rabbis /ro- a ti-e very /ar bac21 and is
act0ally a re/lection o/ esoteric %abylonian teachings#
,s the %oo2 o/ Benesis !the /irst /e. chapters o/ it at least" is very largely ta2en /ro- the
%abylonians1 so the Ee.s derived their angelology1 or syste- o/ angels or angelical
hierarchies1 /ro- that sa-e so0rce# &o. this teaching /o0nd its /inest e3pression in the
Ee.ish theosophy called the Gabbalah !this .ord1 as said be/ore1 -eaning @to receive@ ? i#e#1
traditionary lore handed do.n /ro- teacher to teacher"1 and the teaching o/ the hierarchies in
the Gabbalah is /0nda-ental1 the .hole syste- being based on it5 it i-plies the inter-ingling
and the interchange o/ all li/e and all beings1 bet.een lo. and high# Aence the Gabbalah is1
so /ar as it goes1 a /aith/0l re/lection o/ the esoteric philosophy# The Gabbalah as o0tlined in
the boo2 ;ohar/ a .ord -eaning @splendor@ ? this boo2 is o/ten called the %ible o/ the
Gabbalists ? is in large part e3oteric /ro- the theosophical vie.point1 beca0se all o0r
teachings1 with regard to certain thing!/ are in the ;ohar/ b0t not all the e3planations are
there1 and this /act -a2es the boo2 e3oteric1 in so /ar as the 2eys are lac2ing#
The teaching in the Gabbalah .ith regard to the hierarchies and the ladder o/ li/e is that /ro-
the %o0ndless1 or Eyn Soph1 do.n to in/inity belo.1 the ladder o/ li/e consists o/ steps1 or
degrees1 or grades1 o/ conscio0sness and o/ conscio0snesses1 and o/ being and o/ beings1
and that there is a constant interchange1 an inter/lo. o/ co--0nication1 bet.een these
inn0-erable grades o/ the vario0s hierarchies or .orlds# recisely o0r teaching ? nat0rally#
The Gabbalistic hierarchy consists o/1 or -ore acc0rately is typi/ied by1 nine grades or planes
or spheres hanging /ro- a tenth !or a /irst1 i/ yo0 li2e"1 all together -a2ing ten# They bore the
/ollo.ing na-es# The /irst is called the 6ro.n1 the ri-ordial oint1 the /irst and highest o/
the Sephiroth !so-eti-es spelt Se/iroth" or the grades1 steps1 planes1 or spheres1 be/ore
spo2en o/# The ne3t Sephira is called :isdo-# !:e have no ti-e no. to give the Aebre.
.ords here; they -ay be /o0nd in any boo2 on the Gabbalah; see 0!i! 3n4eiled/ $$1 2131
and Theo!o%hical 'lo!!ar&#" The ne3t1 the third1 is called Understanding or1 perhaps better1
$ntelligence# These /or- the head and t.o sho0lders o/ the ,da- Gad-on1 or ,rchetypal
7an1 or $deal 7an# ,ccording to the thin2ing o/ the Gabbalists1 as these hierarchies are
partic0larly and sy-pathetically related to certain respective parts o/ the h0-an body1 so
these three >0st spo2en o/ have each its respective relation5 certain parts abo0t the cro.n o/
the head1 or in or /ro- the head1 or belonging to the head1 /or the /irst Sephira; the right
sho0lder to :isdo-; the le/t to Understanding# The right ar- is called Breatness1 or
so-eti-es 9ove; the le/t ar- is called o.er1 or so-eti-es E0stice1 and is considered a
/e-inine I0ality; the breast or region o/ the chest or heart is called %ea0ty# The right leg
!re-e-ber $ a- spea2ing generally o/ the ,rchetypal 7an" is called S0btility; the le/t leg is
called 7a>esty1 and is considered a /e-inine I0ality# The generative organs are called
Fo0ndation#
&o. these -a2e nine# Each o/ these grades is ass0-ed to e-anate /ro- the one above it#
First the 6ro.n; /ro- the 6ro.n1 :isdo-; /ro- the 6ro.n and :isdo-1 Understanding; /ro-
the three ? 6ro.n1 :isdo-1 and Understanding ? co-es the /o0rth; /ro- the /o0r all together
co-es the /i/th; /ro- the /ive all together co-es the si3th; and so on do.n to the ninth; and
the ninth1 .ith all the /orces and I0alities o/ the others behind it1 prod0ces this ro0nd being1
an egg'shaped container or @carrier@ or vehicle1 an a0ric egg; and this a0ric egg1 as the tenth1
is called <ingdo-1 or so-eti-es =.elling lace1 beca0se it is the /r0it or res0lt or e-anation
or /ield o/ action o/ all the others1 -ani/esting thro0gh these di//erent planes o/ being#
:hy sho0ld the hierarchies so-eti-es be n0-bered or rec2oned as seven1 and so-eti-es
as ten; %eca0se ten is the -ost sacred /0nda-ental n0-ber in occ0ltis-# $t is that 0pon
.hich the 0niverse is b0ilt# The /abric o/ being is b0ilt along the lines o/ the decad or ten# The
ythagoreans1 -e-bers o/ one o/ the -ost -ystic o/ the ancient Bree2 schools o/ thin2ing1
had .hat they called the sacred Tetra2t&!/ a .ord re/erring to the n0-ber /o0r; and ho. did
they represent the Tetra2tys; $n this /ashion5 /irst a point above and alone1 the 7onad; then
t.o points belo. that1 or the =yad; then three points belo. these1 or the Triad; and then /o0r
points belo. these1 or the Tetrad ? ten points altogether# They had an oath .hich they
considered the -ost sacred ad>0ration o/ the ythagorean School1 .hich they 0ttered .hen
they s.ore by the @Aoly Tetra2tys#@ :hat is this oath; $t is .orth re-e-bering5 @Nea1 by the
Tetra2tys1 .hich has s0pplied to o0r so0l the /o0ntain containing the roots o/ ever/lo.ing
nat0re#@ This is >0st /0ll o/ pro/o0nd tho0ght# Finally1 the Tetra2tys e-ble-atiDed !a-ong
other things" the procession o/ beings into -ani/estation# First the ri-ordial oint1 then the
line1 then the s0per/icies1 then the c0be5 1Q2Q3Q*R1)#
:hat1 /inally1 is the di//erence bet.een the syste- o/ seven and that o/ ten; The seven is the
/0nda-ental n0-ber o/ the ani"e!ted 0niverse; b0t over the seven hovers eternally the
in/inite and i--ortal triad1 the3nani"e!t# This is the 2ey# So-e religions specialiDe in
sevens; b0t all religions have the ten1 also1 in their vario0s n0-erical sche-es#
,s A# # %lavats2y says1 the n0-ber ten is the secret or sephirical principle o/ the 0niverse1
beca0se on and thro0gh this denary syste- the 0niverse is /or-ed and b0ilt# 7an !as
a whole" is ten/old1 the 0niverse !as a whole" is ten/old1 b0t both are septenary in
ani"e!tation# Every ato-1 every living being1 and every 0niverse is a co-plete hierarchy o/
ten degrees5 three highest considered as the root1 and seven lo.er in active -ani/estation#
This root1 or highest triad1 is a 7ystery'teaching1 concerning .hich very little open
e3planation is to be /o0nd even in the ancient literat0res#
$n The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page 9+1 A# # %lavats2y /irst en0-erates certain things in
the StanDa there printed1 to .it5 @The Foice o/ the :ord1 Svabhavat1 the &0-bers1 /or he is
4ne and &ine1@ to .hich she >oins the /ollo.ing as a /ootnote5
:hich -a2es ten1 or the per/ect n0-ber applied to the @6reator1@ the na-e given to the
totality o/ the 6reators blended by the 7onotheists into 4ne1 as the @Elohi-1@ ,da-
<ad-on or Sephira ? the 6ro.n ? are the androgyne synthesis o/ the 1) Sephiroth1 .ho
stand /or the sy-bol o/ the -ani/ested Universe in the pop0larised <abala# The esoteric
<abalists1 ho.ever1 /ollo.ing the Eastern 4cc0ltists1 divide the 0pper Sephirothal triangle
/ro- the rest !or Sephira1 6hoch-ah and %inah Lthat is1 the 6ro.n1 :isdo- and
UnderstandingM"1 .hich leaves seven Sephiroth# # # #
Then on page 3C) she says in relation to other -atters5 @The 1)1 being the sacred n0-ber o/
the 0niverse1 .as secret and esoteric # # #@; and on page 3C25 @# # # the .hole astrono-ical
and geo-etrical portion o/ the secret sacerdotal lang0age .as b0ilt 0pon the n0-ber 1)1 # # #@
$t -ay be interesting and .ell .orth .hile to point o0t here that these I0otations give the
reason .hy the n0-erical co-p0tations o/ the esoteric philosophy have not yet been
satis/actorily solved by st0dents .ith a -athe-atical t0rn o/ -ind ? beca0se they .ill persist
in .or2ing .ith the n0-ber seven1 alone1 in spite o/ 7ada-e %lavats2y8s open hints to the
contrary1 /or she says openly that the n0-ber seven -0st be 0sed in calc0lations in a
-anner hitherto 0n2no.n to :estern -athe-atics# The hint o0ght to be s0//icient in itsel/
alone1 beca0se the seven1 considered as a basis /or co-p0tation1 is a very 0n.ieldy and
a.2.ard n0-ber .ith .hich to calc0late# The s0b>ect is all0ded to in veiled -anner in her
esoteric 0n!truction!/ n0-ber $1 page 91 in spea2ing o/ ad-apani1 or the @9ot0s'handed@ ?
one o/ the na-es in Tibetan -ysticis- o/ the bodhisattva ,valo2itesvara# A# # %lavats2y
says1 a/ter narrating a legend concerning this character5
Ae vo.ed to per/or- the /eat be/ore the end o/ the <alpa1 adding that in case o/ /ail0re he
.ished that his head .o0ld split into n0-berless /rag-ents# The <alpa closed; b0t
A0-anity /elt hi- not .ithin its cold1 evil heart# Then ad-apani8s head split and .as
shattered into a tho0sand /rag-ents# 7oved .ith co-passion1 the =eity re'/or-ed the
pieces into ten heads1 three .hite and seven o/ vario0s colors# ,nd since that day -an
has beco-e a per/ect n0-ber1 or TE&#
$n this allegory the potency o/ S4U&=1 6494R ,&= &U7%ER is so ingenio0sly
introd0ced as to veil the real esoteric -eaning# To the o0tsider it reads li2e one o/ the
-any -eaningless /airy'tales o/ creation; b0t it is pregnant .ith spirit0al and divine1
physical and -agical1 -eaning# Fro- ,-itabha ? no color or thewhite glor& ? are born
the seven di//erentiated colors o/ the pris-# These each e-it a corresponding so0nd1
/or-ing the seven o/ the u!ical !cale# ,s Beo-etry a-ong the 7athe-atical Sciences
is specially related to ,rchitect0re1 and also ? proceeding to Universals ? to 6os-ogony1
so the ten Eods o/ the ythagorean Tetrad1 or Tetra2tys1 being -ade to sy-boliDe the
7acrocos-1 the 7icrocos-1 or -an1 its i-age1 had also to be divided into ten points# For
this &at0re hersel/ has provided1 as .ill be seen#
4ne -ore citation1 in order to /inish the s0b>ect# 4n page 1(1 A# # %lavats2y .rites shortly as
/ollo.s5
,s the Universe1 the 7acrocos- and the 7icrocos-1 are ten1 .hy sho0ld .e divide 7an
into !e4en @principles@; This is the reason .hy the per/ect n0-ber ten is divided into t.o1
a reason .hich cannot be given o0t p0blicly5 $n their co-pleteness1 i+e+1 s0per'spirit0ally
and physically1 the /orces are TE&5 to'.it1 three on the s0b>ective and inconceivable1 and
seven on the ob>ective plane# %ear in -ind that $ a- no. giving yo0 the description o/ the
t.o opposite poles5 !a" the pri-ordial triangle1 .hich as soon as it has re/lected itsel/ in
the @Aeavenly 7an1@ the highest o/ the lo.er seven ? disappears1 ret0rning into @Silence
and =ar2ness@; and !6" the astral paradig-atic -an1 .hose 7onad !)ta" is also
represented by a triangle1 as it has to beco-e a ternary in conscio0s =evachanic
interl0des#
hapter Ei)ht
Traces o/ the Esoteric hilosophy in Benesis#
The oldest religions o/ the .orld ? e3oterically1 /or the esoteric root or /o0ndation is one ?
are the $ndian1 the 7aDdean1 and the Egyptian# Then co-es the 6haldean1 the o0tco-e
o/ these ? entirely lost to the .orld no.1 e3cept in its dis/ig0red Sabeanis- as at present
rendered by the archaeologists; then1 passing over a n0-ber o/ religions that .ill be
-entioned later1 co-es the Ee.ish1 esoterically1 as in the <abala1 /ollo.ing in the line o/
%abylonian 7agis-; e3oterically1 as in Benesis and the entate0ch1 a collection o/
allegorical legends# Read by the light o/ the Hohar1 the initial /o0r chapters o/ Benesis are
the /rag-ent o/ a highly philosophical page in the :orld8s 6os-ogony# ? The Secret
Doctrine/ $1 1)'11
The /irst lesson ta0ght in Esoteric philosophy is1 that the incogniDable 6a0se does not p0t
/orth evol0tion1 .hether conscio0sly or 0nconscio0sly1 b0t only e3hibits
periodicallydi""erent a!%ect! o" it!el" to the perception o/ "inite 7inds# &o. the collective
7ind ? the Universal ? co-posed o/ vario0s and n0-berless Aosts o/ 6reative o.ers1
ho.ever in/inite in -ani/ested Ti-e1 is still /inite .hen contrasted .ith the 0nborn and
0ndecaying Space in its s0pre-e essential aspect# That .hich is /inite cannot be per/ect# #
# #
The Aebre. Elohi-1 called in the translations @Bod1@ and .ho create @light1@ are identical
.ith the ,ryan ,s0ras# They are also re/erred to as the @Sons o/ =ar2ness@ as a
philosophical and logical contrast to light i--0table and eternal# # # # The Horoastrian
,-shaspends create the .orld in si3 days or periods also1 and rest on the Seventh;
.hereas that Se4enth is the "ir!t period or @day1@ in esoteric philosophy1 !$riar& creation
in the ,ryan cos-ogony"# $t is that inter-ediate ,eon .hich is the $rologue to creation1
and .hich stands on the borderland bet.een the 0ncreated eternal 6a0sation and the
prod0ced /inite e//ects; a state o/ na!cent activity and energy as the /irst aspect o/ the
eternal i--0table G0iescence# $n 'ene!i!/ on .hich no -etaphysical energy has been
spent1 b0t only an e3traordinary ac0teness and ingen0ity to veil the esoteric Tr0th1
@6reation@ begins at the third stage o/ -ani/estation# @Bod@ or the #lohi are the @Seven
Regents@ o/ y-ander# They are identical .ith all the other 6reators# ? $bid#1 $$1 *+7'+
TA$S EFE&$&B .e co--ence o0r st0dy .ith the /ollo.ing citation /ro- the /irst vol0-e
o/ The Secret Doctrine/ page 22*5
7an2ind in its /irst prototypal1 shado.y /or-1 is the o//spring o/ the Elohi- o/ 9i/e !or
itris"; in its I0alitative and physical aspect it is the direct progeny o/ the @,ncestors1@ the
lo.est =hyanis1 or Spirits o/ the Earth; /or its -oral1 psychic1 and spirit0al nat0re1 it is
indebted to a gro0p o/ divine %eings1 the na-e and characteristics o/ .hich .ill be given
in %oo2 $$# 6ollectively1 -en are the handi.or2 o/ hosts o/ vario0s spirits; distrib0tively1 the
tabernacles o/ those hosts; and occasionally and singly1 the vehicles o/ so-e o/ the-#
,nd on page 22(1 second paragraph5
7an is not1 nor co0ld he ever be1 the co-plete prod0ct o/ the @9ord Bod@; b0t he i! the
child o/ the #lohi1 so arbitrarily changed into the sing0lar -asc0line gender# The /irst
=hyanis1 co--issioned to @create@ -an in their i-age1 co0ld only thro. o// their shado.s1
li2e a delicate -odel /or the &at0re Spirits o/ -atter to .or2 0pon# !See %oo2 $$#" 7an is1
beyond any do0bt1 /or-ed physically o0t o/ the d0st o/ the Earth1 b0t his creators and
/ashioners .ere -any#
$t see-s advisable /irst to spea2 o/ t.o things1 a less thing and a greater thing; .e ta2e the
less thing /irst# ,s has been seen /ro- the beginning o/ o0r st0dies1 .e have been bringing
/or.ard /or o0r consideration at every one o/ o0r -eetings teachings /o0nd in the great
religions o/ the .orld1 -ostly o/ the past1 .hich are si-ilar to or identical .ith o0r o.n# This
has been done in order to >oin all these teachings1 as /o0nd in the old religions1 .ith the
teachings as given by A# # %lavats2y1 that is1 .ith theosophy# This sho.s the 0niversality o/
tho0ght in religions and thereby ind0ces a spirit o/ 2indliness and brotherhood1 and leads to
the accent0ation o/ the -oral sense .hich so greatly lac2s in the co-parative religio0s st0dy
o/ the doctrines o/ the predo-inant ancient religions by the -ass o/ scholars in the 4ccident
today# $t does a.ay at one s.eep .ith the egoistic opinion that @.e are -ore per/ect and
-orally better than yo0 are1@ .ith the idea that .e 4ccidentals are a s0perior people1 and
.ith the idea that a certain race and a certain religion are1 by the /iat o/ the =eity1 the chosen
receptacles or vehicles /or the only tr0th; that all the other religions are /alse1 and that those
.ho pro/essed the- in ancient ti-es .ere -erely brands prepared /or the b0rningK
The second thing and the greater is this# :e have constantly been bringing /or.ard certain
religio0s or philosophical analogies and certain points o/ vie. there0pon .hich are veritable
doctrinal to0chstones; o0r ai- being that those .ho -ay read these st0dies shall be enabled
to have at hand1 and ? thro0gh the tho0ghts therein e3pressed ? to have clear'set in their
o.n -inds1 2e&! by .hich to test the tr0th and reality o/ the essential or /0nda-ental
doctrines o/ these ancient religions1 beca0se all the!edoctrines in their e!!ence and in
their inner -eaning1 in those old religions1 are tr0e# $n this sense %rah-anis- is tr0e1 in this
sense %0ddhis- is tr0e1 li2e.ise 6on/0cianis-1 and the doctrines o/ 9ao'tse called Taois-#
They are all tr0e in that sense#
%0t all o/ the- have been1 in greater or less degree1 s0b>ect to the in/l0ences o/ certain
creations o/ h0-an /ancy; and /or one .ho has not been trained in these st0dies1 it is o/ten
di//ic0lt to separate the -erely h0-an /ancies /ro- the nat0re'tr0e teachings o/ the ancient
.isdo-'religion# ,ll the ancient religions sprang /ro- that sa-e so0rce ? theosophy1 as it is
called today# %0t it is1 as said be/ore1 so-eti-es di//ic0lt to 2no. .hat is the original teaching
and .hat the -erely h0-an accretion or creation# These creations o/ h0-an phantasy and
irreligio0s /ear are very evident in the t.o -odern -onotheistic religions .hich have spr0ng
/ro- E0dais-1 that is to say1 in 6hristianity and in $sla-# $n these t.o the h0-an accretions o/
phantasy are very -ar2ed; b0t in both o/ the- there e3ists a solid s0bstrat0- o/ -ystical
tho0ght based on the ancient teachings o/ the .isdo-'religion#
$n 6hristianity it is partic0larly in the &eopythagorean and the &eoplatonic /or-s1 as
6hristianiDed so-e.hat and as -ani/ested in the teachings o/ =ionysi0s1 called the
,reopagite; and in the later 7oha--edan religion it is -ani/ested so-e.hat -ore distantly
in the borro.ings /ro- Bree2 tho0ght -ainly1 tho0gh also /ro- other so0rces1 as .e /ind
the- o0tlined by the 7oha--edan doctors and thin2ers1 s0ch as $bn Sina1 co--only called
,vicenna in E0rope1 a ersian1 .ho lived and .rote at the end o/ the tenth cent0ry; by
,verroes in 6ordova1 Spain1 properly called Roshd1 .ho /lo0rished d0ring the t.el/th cent0ry;
and by another e-inent 7oha--edan scholar !-entioning these three o0t o/ -any" ,l
Farabi1 o/ the tenth cent0ry1 by descent a T0r2# The ancient .isdo- also a//ected the
teachings o/ 7oha--ed in a highly -ystical /or-1 tho0gh greatly changed1 as sho.n in the
S0/i doctrines1 .hich are partic0larly and -ani/estly o/ ersian origin1 o.ing their rise to that
spirit0al'-inded and s0btil people1 the ersians# These doctrines are a very .elco-e
contrast .ith the hard and -echanical religio0s belie/s .hich arose o0t o/ the egois- o/ the
cr0de ,rabian tribes o/ that period#
The -ain the-e o/ o0r st0dy this evening is the consideration o/ the opening verses o/ the
%oo2 o/ %eginnings called Benesis ? the /irst boo2 in the 9a. o/ the Ee.s# :e shall /irst read
the English translation o/ these verses as /o0nd in the @a0thoriDed version1@ and o/ the sa-e
chapters .e shall -a2e a translation o0rselves1 in .hich yo0 .ill be enabled to see the
di//erence /ro- the /or-er; and .e .ill e3plain .hat the di//erence is1 and ho. it co-es to be1
and /or this p0rpose .e shall have to go into a brie/ e3position o/ certain pec0liarities o/ the
ancient Aebre. tong0e#
$n the a0thoriDed version o/ the English %ible1 called the version o/ <ing Ea-es1 the %oo2 o/
Benesis opens as /ollo.s5
1# $n the beginning Bod created the heaven and the earth#
2# ,nd the earth .as .itho0t /or-1 and void; and dar2ness .as 0pon the /ace o/ the
deep# ,nd the Spirit o/ Bod -oved 0pon the /ace o/ the .aters#
3# ,nd Bod said1 9et there be light5 and there .as light#
*# ,nd Bod sa. the light1 that it .as good5 and Bod divided the light /ro- the dar2ness#
(# ,nd Bod called the light =ay1 and the dar2ness he called &ight# ,nd the evening and
the -orning .ere the /irst day#
C# ,nd Bod said1 9et there be a /ir-a-ent in the -idst o/ the .aters1 and let it divide the
.aters /ro- the .aters#
7# ,nd Bod -ade the /ir-a-ent and divided the .aters .hich .ere 0nder the /ir-a-ent
/ro- the .aters .hich .ere above the /ir-a-ent5 and it .as so#
+# ,nd Bod called the /ir-a-ent Aeaven# ,nd the evening and the -orning .ere the
second day#
9# ,nd Bod said1 9et the .aters 0nder the heaven be gathered together 0nto one place1
and let the dry land appear5 and it .as so#
1)# ,nd Bod called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together o/ the .aters called he
Seas5 and Bod sa. that it .as good#
2C# ,nd Bod said1 9et 0s -a2e -an in o0r i-age1 a/ter o0r li2eness5 and let the- have
do-inion over the /ish o/ the sea1 and over the /o.l o/ the air1 and over the cattle1 and
over all the earth1 and over every creeping thing that creepeth 0pon the earth#
27# So Bod created -an in his o.n i-age1 in the i-age o/ Bod created he hi-; -ale and
/e-ale created he the-#
$n the /irst place1 Aebre. is a Se-itic tong0e1 one o/ the co-pany o/ lang0ages o/ .hich
,rabic and Ethiopic and ,ra-aean !or ,ra-aic" and hoenician and ,ssyrian are other
-e-bers# The Aebre. in .hich the %ible is .ritten is called the %iblical Aebre.# $t is ancient
Aebre.# The lang0age spo2en in alestine at the ti-e .hen Ees0s is s0pposed to have lived
0pon the earth in Eer0sale- and aro0nd that district .as ,ra-aean1 and not Aebre.1 .hich
.as then e3tinct as a spo2en lang0age1 and o/ co0rse .hen he spo2e to his disciples he
spo2e to the- in ,ra-aean#
The Aebre. lang0age as /o0nd in the ancient -an0scripts o/ the %ible ? none earlier1
probably1 than the ninth cent0ry o/ the 6hristian era ? is .ritten .ith @points1@ ta2ing the place
o/ vo.els1 beca0se Aebre. .riting is a consonantal syste-; its alphabet is .holly
consonantal# $t has the aleph or a/ .hich is nevertheless rec2oned as a consonant# $t has the
.a. or w/and it also is rec2oned as a consonant; and it has the yod or &/ also rec2oned as a
consonant1 b0t it has no vo.el signs proper#
Th0s1 the lang0age is .ritten .itho0t tr0e vo.els# F0rther-ore1 in the -ost ancient
-an0scripts ? and certainly it .as so in the original or pre'6hristian era te3ts ? the letters are
all r0n together1 /ollo.ing one a/ter another1 .itho0t separation o/ .ords# There .ere so-e
-ar2s possibly1 by .hich certain things in the te3t .ere pointed o0t as o/ partic0lar
i-portance; b0t the letters /ollo.ed one another inter-inably1 .ith no separation into .ords1
and .itho0t vo.els# So1 yo0 see1 there is an open /ield /or -any 2inds o/ spec0lation1 even
/or very able Aebre. scholars1 as to .hat any certain co-bination o/ letters /o0nd in this
endless strea- -ay have originally -eant# This .ay o/ .riting .as 0niversal1 practically1 in
ancient ti-es; the earliest Bree2 and 9atin -an0scripts o/ the &e. Testa-ent are .ritten in
this /ashion1 .hich -erely /ollo.ed the ancient c0sto-1 as -ay still be seen on the r0ins o/
p0blic b0ildings in Breece and Ro-e# 4bvio0sly1 interpretation1 or correct reading1 .as o/ten
d0bio0s5 the reader -ight be very do0bt/0l o/ the original sense o/ a passage in a -an0script
so .ritten#
So -0ch .as this the case that there arose in alestine at an 0ndeter-ined date ? b0t .e
2no. that it -ay go bac2 to abo0t the ti-e o/ the /all o/ Eer0sale- be/ore Tit0s or1 say1 abo0t
the beginning o/ the 6hristian era ? a school o/ interpreters1 .ho interpreted by .hat they
.ere pleased to call @tradition1@ a!orah1 that is to say1 @traditional@ 2no.ledge1 ho. the
Aebre. %ible sho0ld be read1 ho. these strea-s o/ consonants sho0ld be divided 0p in
reading into .ords1 and .hat vo.el points sho0ld be p0t there in order to /i3 the
pron0nciation in accordance there.ith# This syste- o/ @points@ .as probably not
introd0ced into the te@t till the seventh cent0ry# This school .as called the School o/ the
7asorah1 and its e3po0nders and /ollo.ers .ere called 7asoretes#
This School o/ the 7asorah reached its /0llest develop-ent and co-pletion probably in the
ninth cent0ry o/ the 6hristian era# %0t .hile this school depended 0pon .hat it called
tradition1 there is no certainty o/ proo/ that their interpretations o/ their o.n co-binations o/
letters into .ords .ere al.ays correct# They see-ed to have got1 ho.ever1 and to have
passed do.n to posterity1 !oe 2no.ledge o/ the general original sense#
$n order to ill0strate this -atter1 let 0s ta2e the /irst /ive English .ords o/ Benesis5 .e drop all
the vo.els1 retaining only the consonants1 and .e have this5 nthbgnnnggdcrtd# No0 co0ld
here insert vo.els al-ost ad libit0- in see2ing a -eaning# @$n the beginning Bod created1@
and no. i-agine endless lines o/ s0ch consonantsK
,dd to it the /act that Aebre. .riting begins at the right hand and r0ns to the le/t#
F0rther-ore1 it begins at .hat .e .o0ld call the end o/ the boo21 and r0ns to the /ront1 as
.ritings in other Se-itic tong0es do# This /ashion o/ .riting .as not 0nco--on .ith other
peoples in ancient days# Bree2 and 9atin .riting in ancient ti-es so-eti-es /ollo.ed this
syste-1 b0t later1 as yo0 can see today i/ yo0 have been in Breece or in Ro-e1 in the old
inscriptions on the te-ples and else.here1 it 0s0ally began at the le/t and .ent to the right1
0s0ally .ith no brea2s /or .ords# $n the very old Bree2 .ritings !and else.here too" they also
had .hat they called6ou!tro%hedon/ /ro- t.o Bree2 .ords -eaning @o3't0rning1@ ta2en /ro-
the path /ollo.ed by the plo.ing o35 .hen it starts1 let 0s say1 /ro- one end o/ a /ield it goes
to the other end and then t0rns and goes bac2 in the opposite direction1 parallel .ith the
other line1 in plo.ing its /0rro.s# This -ethod is not /ollo.ed in the Aebre. -an0scripts o/
the %ible that .e possess#
&o.1 in beginning o0r translation o/ the /irst verses o/ Benesis1 .e are -et in the very /irst
t.o .ords by a di//ic0lty# These .ords can be translated in t.o or three di//erent .ays# The
translation as given in the E0ropean %ibles1 and as /o0nd in the a0thoriDed English version1 is
a /airly correct rendering so /ar as -ere .ords go; b0t anyone .ho has 0nderta2en
translations /ro- a /oreign lang0age and partic0larly /ro- a dead one1 and -ore especially
again /ro- a religio0s tong0e and one evidently .ritten -ore or less in cipher1 can realiDe the
di//ic0lties there lie in pic2ing o0t the vario0s -eanings .hich any one .ord -ay have1 in
choosing .hich is the .ord that is best /or the translation1 .hich .ord carries the -eaning
nearest to the intention o/ the .riter# The /irst t.o .ords as 0s0ally read are 6e and re!hith;
and so divided1 their -eanings are as here /ollo.5 6e-eans @in1@ re!hith -eans @beginning1@
this second .ord being a /e-inine /or- and co-ing originally /ro- the -asc0line .ord re!h1
or ro!h1 -eaning !a-ong several other things" @head1@ @chie/ part1@ @/irst part#@ Aence .e -ay
translate 6e re!hith as @in /irst part1@ or @in highest part1@ etc#
%0t this sa-e co-bination o/ letters ? 6ra!hith ? co0ld also be translated !by dividing
di//erently" as 6ore/ one .ord1 a verb1 and !hith/another .ord1 a no0n5 6ore -eaning
@/or-ing1@ and !hith/ an @instit0tion1@ @establish-ent1@ @arrange-ent#@ @For-ing the
establish-ent !or arrange-ent"@ ? o/ .hat; The te3t goes on to say .hat is arranged or
established ? by arranging @/or-ed the Elohi- heaven and earth#@
F0rther-ore1 the .ord re!h1 or ro!h/ above selected1 -ay also -ean @head@ as be/ore said1
signi/ying @.isdo-1@ or @2no.ledge@5 hence1 @in .isdo- the Elohi- /or-ed heavens and
earth#@ Re-e-ber1 it is per-issible to p0t in vo.els al-ost at choice1 beca0se vo.els do not
e3ist in the original te3t o/ the boo21 in the %ible1 itsel/; hence the opening /or -ore than
-erely one interpretation#
(e!h or ro!h1 then1 also -eans @head@; it also -eans @.isdo-@; it also -eans @host@ or
@-0ltit0de#@ So here .e -ay select still another ? a /o0rth ? translation5 6ere!h/ @in
-0ltit0de1@ or @by -0ltit0de#@ Fith6are.o0ld then be the ne3t .ord1 @/or-ed Elohi-#@ Aere
co-es again another re-ar2able change in -eaning ? and $ a- -a2ing these re-ar2s in
order to point o0t ho. the Aebre. te3t o/ the %ible -ay bear -any translations# S0pposing
then that .e divide the /irst /o0rteen Aebre. letters o/ the te3t into the /ollo.ing .ord'
co-binations5 6e1re!h &ith6are elohi/ .e get !by 0sing &ith6are/ .hich is one o/ the /or-s o/
the Aebre. verb1 called the re/le3ive /or-1 -eaning action 0pon onesel/" the /ollo.ing
translation5 @by -0ltit0de1@ @thro0gh -0ltit0de1 the gods /or-ed the-selves#@ :hat /ollo.s in
the te3t; @into the heavens and the earth@; that is1 @in a host !or -0ltit0de" the gods /or-ed
!-ade" the-selves into the heavens and the earth#@ See the vast di//erence in -eaning /ro-
the a0thoriDed version# This last translation .e believe is the best; it sho.s at once the
identity o/ tho0ght .ith all other ancient cos-ogonic syste-s#
@%y -0ltit0de /or-ed@ !or @evolved@5 this .ord 6ara -eans to /atten1@ @to shape1@ @to beco-e
heavy or gross1@ to c0t1@ @to /or-1@ @to be born1@ @to evolve@" ? @by !or in" -0ltit0de@ or @thro0gh
!or in" -0ltit0de evolved Elohi- the-selves into the heavens and the earth#@
&o. the /o0rth .ord1 elohi5 this is a very c0rio0s .ord# The /irst part o/ it alone
is el/ -eaning @god1@ divinity1 /ro- .hich co-es the second1 a /e-inine
/or-1 eloh @goddess@; i is -erely the -asc0line pl0ral# So1 i/ .e translate every ele-ent in
this single .ord it .o0ld -ean1 @god1 goddess1 pl0ral@ ? sho.ing the androgyno0s essence o/
the divinities1 as it .ere5 the polar opposites o/ the hierarchy1 the essential d0ality in li/e#
Ferse 25 @,nd the earth beca-e ethereal#@ &o. the second .ord1 a verb1 in the Aebre. te3t
o/ the second verse ans.ers to t.o 9atin verbs5 e!!e@to be1@ and "ieri1 @to beco-e@; b0t
al-ost al.ays its original sense is "ieri/@to beco-e1@ li2e the Bree2 gignoai1 -eaning @to
beco-e1@ to gro. into a ne. state o/ so-ething# @,nd the earth beca-e@ or @gre. into
ethereality#@ The t.o ne3t .ords !tohu and 6ohuB o/ the te3t1 .hich .e here translate
@ethereality1@ are very di//ic0lt .ords rightly to interpret# They both -ean @e-ptiness1@ @.aste1
i--ateriality1@ hence @dissol0tion@; the /0nda-ental idea -eans so-ething un!u6!tantial1 not
-aterially gross# :e contin0e o0r translation5 @,nd dar2ness 0pon the /ace o/ the ethers# ,nd
the r0ahh !the spirit'so0l" o/ the gods !o/ Elohi-" !/l0ttered1 hovered" brooding#@ The .ord .e
translate @brooding@ is derived /ro- and -eans the action o/ a hen .hich /l0tters and hovers
and broods over the eggs in its nest# Ao. graphic1 ho. signi/icant is this /ig0re o/ speechK
No0 see the sa-e tho0ght here that yo0 see in practically all the ancient teachings5 the /ig0re
or sy-bol o/ the cos-ic so0l brooding over the .aters o/ space1 preparing the .orld egg1 that
o/ the cos-ic egg and the divine bird laying the cos-ic egg# @,nd the spirit'so0l o/ Elohi-
brooding 0pon the /ace o/ the .aters1@ says the Aebre. te3t# &o. @.aters1@ as .e have
sho.n be/ore1 .as a co--on e3pression or sy-bol /or space1 the ethereal e3pansion1 as it
.ere# :e contin0e o0r translation5
,nd said !the" Elohi- !the gods" ? light1 co-e'into'beingK and light ca-e'into'being# ,nd
sa. !the" gods the light1 that !it .as" good# ,nd divided Elohi- bet.een the light and
bet.een the dar2ness# ,nd called Elohi- the light day1 and the dar2ness called they
night# ,nd !there" ca-e'into'being eve1 and !there" ca-e'into'being -orn# =ay one# ,nd
said Elohi-1 !let there" co-e'into'being an e3panse in !the" -idst o/ the .aters1 and let it
be a separator !divider" bet.een .aters and .aters# ,nd -ade Elohi- !or the gods" the
e3panse1 and they separated bet.een the .aters .hich !.ere" belo. the e3panse1 and
bet.een the .aters .hich !.ere" above the e3panse1 and !it" ca-e'to'be so# ,nd called
Elohi- !the gods" the e3panse heavens1 and !there" ca-e'into'being eve1 and !there"
ca-e'into'being -orn# =ay second# ,nd said Elohi- !the gods"1 !let there" be'gathered'
together Li#e#1 solidi/ied1 condensedM the .aters above the heavens into one place1 and !let
there" be'seen the dry'part Lthe solidi/ied or -ani/ested part ? the .ord -eans @dry1@ in
opposition to h0-idity; h0-idity -eans .ater1 standing /or space1 there/ore1 the collected
-atter o/ a planet to be1 o/ a solar syste- to be1 or a 0niverse to beM1 and !it" ca-e'to'be
so# ,nd called the gods the dry'part earth1 and the solidi/ication !gathering'together" o/
the .aters called they seas# ,nd sa. Elohi- !the gods" that !it .as" good#
&o. t0rn to verses 2C1 271 2+ o/ the sa-e1 the /irst1 chapter5
,nd said !the gods" Elohi-1 9et 0s -a2e h0-anity Lthe .ord is)daG in o0r shado.y
i-age Lin o0r shado.1 in o0r phanto-; the .ord is t!eleG/ according to o0r pattern !or
-odel"# ,nd let the- descend into the /ish o/ the sea and into the /lying creat0res o/ the
heavens1 and into the beast1 and into all the earth1 and into all -oving creat0res .hich
-ove 0pon the earth# ,nd /or-ed Lor shaped or evolved1 the sa-e verb as above1 6araM
Elohi- !the gods" h0-anity in their phanto-1 in the shado.y i-age o/ Elohi-1 /or-ed !or
evolved" they hi-#
&o. co-e t.o very interesting .ords1 0s0ally translated @-ale and /e-ale1@ .hich are t.o o/
the -eanings respectively /o0nd in the dictionaries; b0t the root'-eanings o/ these .ords are
@thin2er and receiver@ !or receptacle"5 @thin2er and receptacle evolved they the-# ,nd
blessed the- the Elohi-1@ that is1 the Elohi- blessed the-1 @and said to the- the Elohi-1 be
/r0it/0l1 increase1 and /ill the earth1@ and so /orth#
No0 see1 there/ore1 that here1 -erely by 0sing other .ords than those 0s0ally chosen by
6hristian translators1 or later Ee.ish translators1 and yet recogniDed dictionary .ords1 and by
/orcing no -eanings1 .e have /o0nd the identical -eanings o/ the esoteric teachings as
o0tlined in The Secret Doctrine .hen treating o/ these s0b>ects# First the hierarchy and its
-ani/ested divinities evolving the 0niverse or 2os-os out o" the!el4e!/0sing the re/le3ive
/or- o/ the Aebre. verb 6ara/ as sho.n above# F0rther-ore1 a st0dy o/ the /irst verse o/
Benesis .ill sho. 0s that the evol0tion treated in it has no relation solely and especially to
the creation o/ this earth or o/ any other partic0lar earth1 b0t is a general doctrine having
re/erence rather to the /irst -ani/estation o/ -aterial being in ethereal space1 and that the
/o.ls o/ the air and the /ish o/ the sea and the beasts1 .hich are spo2en o/1 do not
necessarily re/er !altho0gh they co0ld" to the partic0lar ani-als .hich .e 2no. 0nder those
na-es on earth1 b0t do also re/er !in accord .ith a .ell'2no.n /act o/ ancient -ythology" to
the @ani-als o/ the heavens1@ o/ .hich .e spo2e in o0r last st0dy1 i#e#1 to every globe o/ the
starry spheres1 to every neb0la and to every co-et1 each s0ch being considered in the
ancient teachings to be a living being1 an @ani-al1@ having its physical corp0s or body1 and
having behind it its director1 or governor1 or divine essence1 or spirit#
F0rther-ore1 .e see that the Elohi- evolved -an1 h0-anity1 out o" the!el4e!/ and told
the- to beco-e1 then to enter into and in/or- these other creat0res# $ndeed1 these sons o/
the Elohi- are1 in o0r teachings1 the children o/ light1 the sons o/ light1 which are we
our!el4e!/ and yet di//erent /ro- o0rselves1 beca0se higher1 yet they are o0r o.n very selves
in.ardly# $n /act1 the Elohi- beca-e1 evolved into1 their o.n o//spring1 re-aining in a sense
still al.ays the inspiring light .ithin1 or rather a6o4e/according to the interpretation a0thoriDed
by the very .ords chosen /ro- the dictionary and /lo0ting no r0le o/ Aebre. gra--ar# For1
/ollo.ing the ancient teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy1 and strengthened by e3actly
si-ilar tho0ght in the %abylonian religio0s teachings /ro- .hich these Aebre. teachings
originally ca-e1 .e see that the Elohi- %roAected the!el4e! into the nascent /or-s o/ the
then @h0-anity1@ .hich thence/or.ard .ere @-en1@ ho.ever i-per/ect their develop-ent still
.as#
:hat .ere these Elohi-1 these divinities1 these gods; $n the hierarchical syste- o/ the
Gabbalah they are the si3th in derivation /ro- above1 /ro- the /irst or the 6ro.n1 and th0s
are by no -eans the highest# They .ere1 cos-ogonically1 the ani"e!ted /or-ers or .eavers
o/ the .eb o/ the 0niverse# Eehovah1 spo2en o/ in the second chapter o/ Benesis1 is the third
angelic potency1 co0nting do.n.ards /ro- the 6ro.n ? the s0--it o/ the hierarchy o/ the
Gabbalah#
$n chapter /ive o/ Benesis1 verses 1 and 21 there is an interesting e3pression# :e translate5
This !the" boo2 o/ the generations o/ h0-anity !,da-"# $n the day o/ Elohi- !o/ the gods"
evolving h0-anity1 in the pattern !or -odel" o/ the Elohi-1 -ade they hi-# Thin2er'and'
receptacle -ade they the-1 and blessed the- and called their na-e h0-anity !or ,da-"
in the day o/ their -a2ing#
Evidently1 it is not here a I0estion o/ a single h0-an pair1 o/ a -an and a .o-an in o0r
sense1 b0t o/ nascent androgyno0s h0-anity1 and the& had one nae/ ,da-1 and their
attrib0tes .ere thin2er and cas2et !or receptacle"5 ethereal beings ? children o/ the Elohi-1
.ho are the-selves ? capable o/ thin2ing and o/ receiving and 0nderstanding and developing
0nder the lessons .hich .ere to /ollo. /ro- their incarnations in the lo.er /leshly beings they
the-selves evolved1 and signi/ied 0nder the ter-s as set /orth here5 the @/o.ls@ o/ the @air1@
and the @/ish@ o/ the @sea1@ and every living thing .hich -oveth 0pon the /ace o/ the earth#
These ancient .ritings have -ore than one -ystical or esoteric application or1 as A# #
%lavats2y says1 they have -ore than one 2ey# %0t1 again1 .hat or .ho .ere these
Elohi-; The& were our onad! ? as the ter- is 0sed in theosophy# $t is c0rio0s1 by the .ay1
that 9eibniD1 the great Slavic'Ber-an philosopher1 evolved a theory o/ -onadic evol0tion
.hich is sing0larly li2e o0r o.n in so-e respects# For hi-1 the 0niverse .as replete .ith
progressing entities1 .hich he called -onads1 spirit0al beings .hich evolved thro0gh the
/orces innate in the-selves1 yet acting and reacting 0pon each other ? a /aith/0l echo1 in so
/ar as it goes1 o/ the ancient .isdo-'religion#
,gain1 .hat do .e -ean .hen .e spea2 respectively o/ e-anation1 evol0tion1 and creation;
E-anation and evol0tion are closely si-ilar in -eaning# #anation is /ro- a 9atin .ord
-eaning @/lo.ing o0t1@ and in all the ancient teachings o/ i-portance the idea .as that the
gods actively1 transitively1 @/lo.ed o0t@ /ro- the-selves their o//spring or children##4olution is
also a 9atin .ord and -eans @rolling o0t1@ @0n/olding1@ so-ething .hich is 0n/olded; and
obvio0sly a thing .hich is @/lo.ed o0t1@ 0sing the .ords transitively1 is also 0nrolled o0t1
0n/olded o0t#
&o. creation originally in its 9atin sense -eant practically the sa-e as does this Aebre.
.ord 6ara# $t -eant @-a2ing1@ @shaping1@ @carving1@ @c0tting@ ? o/ co0rse o0t o/ pree3isting
-aterial or -atter1 and the 6hristian theory !.hich .as -ore or less that o/ the Ee.s in their
later days" that Bod -ade the .orld @o0t o/ nothing@ is prepostero0s1 abs0rd1 both historically
and ling0istically# $t is /o0nded on no ancient teaching .hatever1 and it arose nat0rally
eno0gh1 in a sense1 /ro- the -onotheistic -ania .hich endeavored to -a2e Bod e3tra'
cos-ic1 apart /ro- the 0niverse1 and above it1 a p0re spirit1 having no relation o/ inel0ctable
0nion .ith his creat0res1 Bod the @Father and 7a2er@ o/ the-1 and yet an absol0te personal
nonentity ? having no @body1 parts1 or passions1@ yet a$er!on .ithalK 4/ co0rse the t.o
concepts are contradictory and -0t0ally destr0ctive1 and had .e the ti-e it .o0ld be easy to
dilate /0rther on the prepostero0s abs0rdity o/ .hich .e spea2#
:e can see1 there/ore1 in closing o0r st0dy this evening1 that it is very di//ic0lt to say .hich o/
these three1 e-anation1 evol0tion1 creation1 is /irst in the order o/ procession# :as it
e-anation1 /ollo.ed by evol0tion1 /ollo.ed by creation; or .as it evol0tion1 /ollo.ed by
e-anation1 /ollo.ed by creation; 6ertainly1 creation ? in its original sense o/ shaping1
/or-ing ? co-es the last o/ the three1 as is easily sho.n# The di//ic0lty lies in the /act that in
every cos-ic act o/ e-anation .e i--ediately perceive an act o/ evol0tion or 0n/olding; and
in every act o/ evol0tion .e i--ediately perceive an act o/ e-anation# Every -onad %ari
%a!!u passes /ro- one into the other1 >0st as all -an2ind evolved %ari %a!!u /ro- one into
the other# :e sho0ld1 probably1 say that e-anation1 evol0tion1 creation1 .or2 si-0ltaneo0sly
and coordinately1 during ani"e!tation+
%0t ta2ing the I0estion /ro- a p0rely philosophical standpoint1 it is probably acc0rate and
best to say that the /irst step /ro- .hat .e call the Un-ani/est into the -ani/est is
e-anation1 a /lo.ing o0t /ro- its so0rce o/ a -onad or rather a host o/ -onads .hich1 as
they in t0rn /ollo. the pattern set /or the- by their so0rce and their 2ar-ic past1 gro. dar2er1
and -ore -aterial1 proportionately as they recede /ro- their central /o0nt o/ li/e; and1 again1
as they e-anate1 they also evolve1 bringing o0t /ro- .ithin that .hich they innately are or
have1 and they do this in accordance .ith the 2ar-ic lines or patterns 0pon .hich .e have
/aintly to0ched in previo0s st0dies1 .hen spea2ing o/ the s2andhas1 beca0se every act o/
e-anation and o/ evol0tion begins a ne. li/e cycle /ollo.ing the pralaya or rest period o/ a
/or-er li/e period or -anvantara# Then /inally1 .hen the period o/ sel/'conscio0sness is
reached in the cyclical progression o/ evol0tion1 co-es a period o/ .ill1 conscio0s choice1
.hen -an begins to @create@ or /ashion 4oluntaril&8 that is1 thro0gh the e3ercise o/ his .ill and
his int0ition and his intellect he carves his o.n destiny and li2e.ise a//ects the
.orld creationall& .hich e3ists aro0nd hi-#
hapter Nine
40tline o/ Esoteric 6os-ogony1 Blobes1 Ro0nds and Races5 6os-ic Ti-e
eriods#
6an one /ail to recognise in 6re0Der great po.ers o/ int0ition1 .hen1 being al-ost
0nacI0ainted .ith the ,ryan Aind0 philosophies1 little 2no.n in his day1 he .rote5 ?
@:e -odern E0ropeans /eel s0rprised .hen hearing tal2 o/ the Spirits o/ the S0n1 7oon1
etc# %0t .e repeat again1 the naturalgood !en!e and the u%right Audgent o/ the ancient
peoples1 I0ite /oreign to o0r entirel& aterial ideas 0pon celestial -echanics and physical
sciences # # # co0ld not see in the stars and planets only that .hich .e see5 na-ely1
si-ple -asses o/ light1 or opaI0e bodies -oving in circ0its in sidereal space1 -erely
according to the la.s o/ attraction or rep0lsion; b0t they sa. in
the- li4ing bodies1 aniated by spirits as they sa. the sa-e in every 2ingdo- o/ nat0re# #
# # Thi! doctrine o" !%irit!/ !o con!i!tent and con"ora6le to nature/ /ro- .hich it .as
derived1 /or-ed a grand and 0niI0e conception1 .herein the physical1 the -oral1 and the
political aspects .ere all blended together # # #@ !>#g&%te/> pp# *() to *((#"
$t is s0ch a conception only that can lead -an to /or- a correct concl0sion abo0t his
origin and the genesis o/ everything in the 0niverse ? o/ Aeaven and Earth1 bet.een
.hich he is a living lin2# :itho0t s0ch a psychological lin21 and the /eeling o/ its presence1
no science can ever progress1 and the real- o/ 2no.ledge -0st be li-ited to the analysis
o/ physical -atter only# ? The Secret Doctrine/ $$1 3C9'7)
:E 4E& o0r st0dy tonight by reading once again /ro- pages 22* and 22( o/ The Secret
Doctrine1 vol0-e $1 as /ollo.s5
7an2ind in its /irst prototypal1 shado.y /or-1 is the o//spring o/ the Elohi- o/ 9i/e !or
itris"; in its I0alitative and physical aspect it is the direct progeny o/ the @,ncestors1@ the
lo.est =hyanis1 or Spirits o/ the Earth; /or its -oral1 psychic1 and spirit0al nat0re1 it is
indebted to a gro0p o/ divine %eings1 the na-e and characteristics o/ .hich .ill be given
in %oo2 $$# 6ollectively1 -en are the handi.or2 o/ hosts o/ vario0s spirits; distrib0tively1 the
tabernacles o/ those hosts; and occasionally and singly1 the vehicles o/ so-e o/ the-#
,nd the second paragraph on page 22(5
7an is not1 nor co0ld he ever be1 the co-plete prod0ct o/ the @9ord Bod@; b0t he i! the
child o/ the #lohi1 so arbitrarily changed into the sing0lar -asc0line gender# The /irst
=hyanis1 co--issioned to @create@ -an in their i-age1 co0ld only thro. o// their shado.s1
li2e a delicate -odel /or the &at0re Spirits o/ -atter to .or2 0pon# !See %oo2 $$#" 7an is1
beyond any do0bt1 /or-ed physically o0t o/ the d0st o/ the Earth1 b0t his creators and
/ashioners .ere -any#
$n contin0ation o/ o0r st0dy o/ the esoteric sense 0nderlying the /irst chapter o/ Benesis1 .e
-0st point o0t that this chapter does not deal .ith -an as .e no. 2no. hi-# The @-an@
spo2en o/ therein is the spirit0al being .hich descended into -atter in the /irst ro0nd o/ this
-anvantara1 as a spirit0al1 or rather ethereal1 being; and conseI0ently1 .hen in verse 27 .e
translated the pec0liar phrase1 @thin2er and receiver /or-ed !or evolved" they the-1@ .e -0st
0nderstand that this all0sion does not re/er to se30al -an and .o-an o/ the present ti-e#
These .ords1 thin2er andrecei4er/ re/er to the spirit0al nat0re o/ the then ethereal vehicles o/
h0-anity1 not to o0r present'day -an or .o-an; and the .ord receiver can also be
translated rece%tacle/ the vehicle or ho0se o/ the higher nat0re# ,lso1 at the period dealt .ith
in this verse 271 -an in the general sense ? h0-anity ? .as o/ do0ble se31 or androgyne;
hence1 obvio0sly1 there .as no @.o-an@ then# This /irst chapter practically ignores the /irst1
p0rely se3less1 state o/ ethereal ,da-1 and enters 0pon its description o/ @-an@ .hen the
latter .as already sin2ing into -aterial e3istence as a se-i'sel/'conscio0s ethereal
androgyne# $n other .ords1 the /irst chapter does not detail the separation o/ the se3es1 .hich
occ0rred /ar later# This general state-ent is plainly sho.n by even the e3oteric rendering o/
the teaching; b0t let 0s read /ro- another chapter o/ Benesis1 verse ( o/ chapter 25
,nd every plant o/ the /ield 6e"ore it wa! in the earth and every herb o/ the /ield 6e"ore it
grew5 /or the 9ord Bod had not ca0sed it to rain 0pon the earth1 and there wa! not a
an to till the gro0nd Litalics o0rsM#
@7an@ had not yet co-e# 9et -e pre/ace /0t0re e3planations by saying that this second
chapter o/ Benesis deals .ith the third and the /o0rth ro0nds o/ o0r -anvantara1 the latter or
/o0rth being o0r present ro0nd1 and -ore partic0larly .ith the third root'race o/ o0r /o0rth
ro0nd; .hereas chapter /irst is a highly generaliDed and s0ccinct Ee.ish epito-e o/ early
cos-ogony1 and ends .ith a si-ilarly brie/ all0sion to ro0nds /irst and second#
,nd in verses 191 2)1 211 and 221 .e /ind the /ollo.ing5
19# ,nd o0t o/ the gro0nd the 9ord Bod /or-ed every beast o/ the /ield1 and every /o.l o/
the air; and bro0ght the- 0nto ,da- to see .hat he .o0ld call the-5 and .hatsoever
,da- called every living creat0re1 that .as the na-e thereo/#
2)# ,nd ,da- gave na-es to all cattle1 and to the /o.l o/ the air1 and to every beast o/ the
/ield; b0t /or ,da- there .as not /o0nd an help -eet /or hi-#
21# ,nd the 9ord Bod ca0sed a deep sleep to /all 0pon ,da-1 and he slept5 and he too2
one o/ his ribs1 and closed 0p the /lesh instead thereo/;
22# ,nd the rib1 .hich the 9ord Bod had ta2en /ro- -an1 -ade he a .o-an1 and bro0ght
her 0nto the -an#
,s in verse ( above1 $ 0se here the ordinary English translation o/ the so'called a0thoriDed
version1 altho0gh1 as a -atter o/ /act1 a very l0-ino0sly di//erent translation co0ld be -ade o/
these verses# $t .o0ld lead 0s too /ar /ro- o0r -ain point to do so no.#
$n the /irst place1 this second chapter records a di//erent -ethod /ro- that recorded in
chapter 11 and a change as regards the evolving o/ the ethereal being /ro- the Elohi-1
having re/erence to the -a2ing o/ physical h0-anity1 or @-an1@ /ro- the @d0st o/ the gro0nd@
!verse 7"# $n the second place1 this English .ord ri6 o/ verses 21 and 22 sho0ld be translated
@side1@ the all0sion being to the !e%aration o/ the androgyne or d0al'se3ed h0-anity o/ race
the third o/ o0r /o0rth ro0nd into se3ed h0-anity as no. e3istent#
&o. lato in his 9anHuet !S 19)"1 all0des to this sa-e historical physiological /act o/
prehistory1 and says that !one o/" the early races o/ -an2ind .as bise30ally /or-ed; that they
had great and terrible po.ers1 and that their .ic2edness and a-bition .a3ed very great1 so
that He0s gre. angry at their .ic2edness and decided to c0t the- in t.o1 as one .o0ld
divide an egg .ith a hair# This He0s did; and bade ,pollo to render the t.o halves -ore
shapely1 etc# ,pollo so did1 and he closed 0p the /lesh o/ the t.o halves# Since then all
-an2ind .as -an and .o-an# , typically latonic tale1 i-bodying act0al /acts o/ /orgotten
history# This deals .ith the earliest portion o/ the /o0rth root'race1 and -0ch -ore especially
.ith the -iddle period o/ the third root'race o/ the /o0rth ? or present ? ro0nd on this planet#
:e .ill no. leave /or the present1 .ith a /e. -ore .ords o/ e3planation1 the o0tline o/
e-anation and evol0tion as /o0nd in the Ee.ish %ible; b0t be/ore leaving it1 it .ill be .ell to
say a /e. .ords on the I0estion o/ the Elohi-#
Elohi- is a .ord /reI0ently /o0nd in the Ee.ish %ible and is1 as stated in o0r last lect0re1 in
itsel/ an evidence o/ the polytheistic bias1 teachings1 and belie/s1 o/ the ancient Ee.ish
people# The %ible itsel/ sho.s it# Us0ally this .ord ? a pl0ral co--on no0n ? is to be
translated as @gods#@ %0t in -ost places .here it occ0rs in the Aebre. te3t it is translated in
the English a0thoriDed version as @Bod#@ There is no tr0e or solid reason /or s0ch a
translation; the proper rendering is gods# %0t the -onotheistic and 6hristian tendencies o/
the translators -ade the- set the translation /or .hat they considered to be the best
interests o/ the 6hristian 6h0rch1 and their Bod ,l-ighty; so they translated it in vario0s
places by vario0s na-es1 as1 /or instance1 @>0dges@ in E3od0s 215C1 225+'91 and in -any
other places; b0t the essential1 intrinsic -eaning is al.ays gods1 or beings having divine
standing#
:e no. approach in o0r st0dies very di//ic0lt and1 indeed1 highly esoteric -atters# $n the /irst
place1 let 0s never /orget that the Elohi-1 the gods1 .ho are spo2en o/ 0nder vario0s na-es
in the vario0s religions o/ the ancient .orld as the creators or rather evolvers or parents o/
-an2ind1 are spirit0al beings '' who are our!el4e!+ ,nd the 2ey to this apparent riddle is
/o0nd in the doctrine and e3position o/ the hierarchies o/ individ0aliDed li/e#
, hierarchy can be considered as an aggregate 0nit1 as a collective entity in the sa-e sense
that an ar-y is; nevertheless1 an ar-y is co-posed o/ 0nits; and yet1 again1 this ar-y o/
beings in any one hierarchy is indeed /ro- another aspect -ore than a -ere collective entity1
beca0se it is 0nited in its ape31 in .hat is act0ally the /o0nt o/ that hierarchy# This /o0nt is the
hypar3is or spirit0al s0n /ro- .hich all the other nine planes or classes o/ the hierarchy
e-anate and evolve do.n to the lo.est1 thence beginning a ne. hierarchy; even as the
hypar3is o/ any one hierarchy is the lo.est class or plane o/ a s0perior hierarchy1 and so
practically ad in/init0-#
7an is a spirit0al being thro0gho0t1 thro0gh and thro0gh and thro0gh# 7atter itsel/ is b0t one
-ani/estation o/ spirit# :e live in a 0niverse o/ spirit and1 altho0gh -atter e3ists1 it e3ists as
-aya1 ill0sion; not as a -ere ill0sionary nothing1 b0t as so-ething1 as a -odality1 so to say1
o/ spirit# %0t as .e gro. higher into the 0pper planes o/ the hierarchical scale1 the -aya1 /or
the sphere o/ li/e e-braced by that hierarchy1 /ades a.ay /ro- be/ore o0r eyes1 and .e see
tr0th in greater degree and progressively -ore .idely the higher .e go#
:ith regard to the descent into -atter1 or /alling into -atter1 o/ -an2ind1 that is to say1 the
descent into -ani/ested being o/ the spirit0al entities1 the spirit0al hierarchy .hich -an
act0ally and properly is1 .e -0st re-e-ber that .e cannot 0nderstand this pro/o0nd s0b>ect
very .ell .itho0t 0nderta2ing an o0tline or s2etch1 -ore or less co-plete1 o/ .hat are the
ro0nds and races; yet be/ore doing this1 .e -0st clear a.ay /ro- o0r -inds certain scienti/ic
conceptions1 or rather -isconceptions1 .hich have been i-planted in 0s by intensive
teaching /ro- childhood1 and .hich have /or that reason beco-e a part o/ o0r -ental li/e#
T.o -ain pillars o/ o0r -odern science are the /ollo.ing5 /irst1 the doctrine o/ the
conservation o/ energy1 that the a-o0nt o/ /orce or o/ energy in the 0niverse is constant1 and
no increase can be created to add 0nto it1 and no a-o0nt can be ta2en a.ay /ro- it# The
second great pillar is the doctrine o/ the correlation1 or the convertibility1 o/ /orces1 that any
/orce can1 at least theoretically1 be converted into so-e other /orce1 as -echanical -otion
into electrical and electrical into -echanical1 and so /orth as regards the other /orces .or2ing
in -atter#
&o. these t.o theories or doctrines o/ science do -a2e an approach in certain respects to
the esoteric conception o/ the .onder/0l ele-ent bac2 o/ and ca0sative o/ all the changes in
nat0re1 b0t nevertheless the conception o/ the esoteric philosophy cannot accept either o/
these t.o doctrinal pillars o/ science as th0s conceived# First1 the doctrine o/ the conservation
o/ energy5 it is per/ectly tr0e that no @ne.@ /orce can be @created1@ and it is li2e.ise per/ectly
tr0e that no energy or /orce can ever be 0tterly lost# Force! are not con4erted or
tran!"ored/ as the t.in doctrine o/ science has it; it is possible1 ho.ever1 /or a /orce to pass
/ro- one plane o/ being into another ? to co-e into one plane /ro- a higher or1 indeed1 /ro-
a lo.er# $n other .ords1 it is possible /or a /orce' or energy'ele-ent o0tside o/ so-e plane to
enter into being and -ani/estation 0pon it# Aence1 the -aterialistic doctrine o/ a 0niverse o/
dead1 li/eless1 nonvital -atter ? nothing above it or beyond it or belo. it or thro0gh it ? cannot
be accepted by st0dents o/ the esoteric philosophy#
,s regards the correlation or convertibility o/ energy5 it is tr0e1 in one sense1 that all the /orces
in the 0niverse are correlated# $t is a /0nda-ental a3io- o/ theosophy that the 0niverse1 o0r
0niverse1 any 0niverse1 is a living organis-1 and hence that its energies or /orces1 and all o/
the-1 are correlated; b0t this does not -ean that one /orce can 6ecoe another+The idea
o//ends the very essence1 the very /o0ndation o/ the esoteric teaching .ith regard to
-ani/estation1 its hierarchies1 and individ0al lives ? all o//spring o/ the 4&E 9$FE# :hat
happens is rather this5 that one /orce is not turned into or con4erted into another1 b0t evo2es
or calls /orth or aro0ses into active li/e or -ani/estation a @/orce@ .hich .as not @latent@ ? a
c0rio0s contradiction o/ sense ? b0t which wa! in eHuili6riu+ :hen the -odern scientist
spea2s o/ latent or potential energy1 it is to the occ0ltist a cons0--ate logical abs0rdity1 the
very na-e energy or /orce -eaning activity1 and to tal2 abo0t a @latent /orce@ is li2e tal2ing
abo0t @latent activity@ or @dead li/e1@ or a sI0are triangle1 or a /lat sphere# $t is i-possible as
long as .e base o0r conception on the scienti/ic post0lates# %0t ? and note this .ell1 please ?
an occ0ltist co0ld 0se this phrase @latent /orce1@ beca0se in his -o0th the phrase has a
-eaning and sense#
For instance1 a spirit0al ? hence latent or non-aterial ? /orce is not @converted@ into -atter; a
-aterial /orce is not @converted@ into spirit# :hy; %eca0se spirit and -atter1 or /orce and
-atter1 are not t.o1 b0t /0nda-entally and essentially 4&E# Thro0gho0t the long period o/
-anvantaric ti-e there is a grad0al evol0tion o/ one thing into another1 b0t this procession o/
li/e is not acco-plished along the lines or by the -ethods o/ the scienti/ic theories .hich
apply in the doctrine called the convertibility o/ -aterial energy# The latter is a drea-; it does
not e3ist#
This is1 in /act1 a s0b>ect .hich .e shall have to develop -ore /0lly at a later period o/ o0r
st0dy1 b0t .e co-e no. to the I0estion o/ the descent o/ spirit0al and then ethereal -an into
-atter1 do.n the ten steps o/ the hierarchical scale# :e sa. in a /or-er st0dy that this
descent .as beg0n by the entrance thro0gh a laya'center o/ the spirit0al entities see2ing
-ani/estation on lo.er planes1 the ti-e having str0c2 /or the- to open their great -aha'
-anvantara or the .orld period .hich .as to /ollo.# ,s soon as the spirit0al essences
to0ched the highest degree o/ the lo.er plane1 o0r /o0rth'-atter plane1 it stirred the partic0lar
laya'center therein1 to .hich they .ere directed by 2ar-ic energy1 into corresponding activity
or sy-pathetic li/e# This /irst -ani/estation thereo/ as seen /ro- the sa-e plane .as the
neb0la1 a clo0dy neb0la; the second stage1 aeons later1 .as a spiral neb0la; and the third1
aeons still later1 .as an ann0lar n0cleated neb0la1 li2e a ring .ith a globe in the center; the
latest stage1 be/ore the evolving body settled into li/e as a planet1 .as a co-et1 directed or
dra.n to that partic0lar solar syste- or s0n to .hich it .as 2ar-ically related in the /or-er
planetary -anvantara#
&o. the li/e cycle or -anvantara o/ a planet consists ob>ectively o/ seven ro0nds1 or s-aller
-anvantaras1 aro0nd seven globes; b0t this is preceded by three ele-ental cycles ? ten in
all# The /irst three stages or cycles1 call the- the three ele-ental ro0nds1 i/ yo0 .ill1 are on
the three archetypal planes above the seven# This period is not yet
really ethereal-ani/estation5 it is the /irst descent o/ the ar0pa !or bodiless" beings o/ spirit0al
nat0re into s0bspirit0al -ani/estation; b0t .hen the third or lo.est o/ the three archetypal
planes has been traversed1 by that ti-e the li/e'.ave or li/e'essence has consolidated
s0//iciently in ethereal -atter to /or- an airy shape or ethereal globe# This globe thence
starts on the -anvantaric cycle do.n into -atter1 a cycle .hich proceeds in several stages1
act0ally seven1 and 0pon and in seven globes1 as already stated#
=0ring the "ir!t ro0nd1 0pon the /irst globe1 the li/e'.ave has to co-plete a ring consisting o/
seven root'races on that globe; a/ter1 or rather at1 the end o/ the evol0tion o/ each root'race1
respectively1 the root'race8s s0rpl0s energy is there0pon e3ploded or protr0ded into the
sphere lo.er and there /or-s the /irst1 second1 third1 etc#1 ele-ent o/ the second globe o/ the
/irst ro0nd# The li/e'energy or li/e'.ave has to r0n a ring o/ seven root'races in and 0pon that
second globe1 and .hen each s0ch root'race has reached its end there1 its s0rpl0s energy is
there0pon e3ploded or protr0ded e3actly as be/ore into a -agnetic center belo. it1 and the
seven there1 a/ter all have arrived1 /or- the third globe1 and so on till the seven globes are
/or-ed# This is the /irst ro0nd# %eginning .ith the second ro0nd on the seven globes1 the
process is altered in i-portant partic0lars1 beca0se all the seven globes are already /or-ed1
as globes#
,t the end o/ the /irst ro0nd there is a planetary obsc0ration or rest period1 .hen the entities
leave the last globe1 the seventh1 and enter into a !lo.er" nirvanic period o/ -anvantaric
repose1 ans.ering to the devachanic or bet.een'li/e states o/ the h0-an entity bet.een its
respective lives# ,nd so also at the end o/ the second ro0nd1 and o/ the third1 .hen .e reach
the /o0rth1 .hich is o0r present ro0nd#
,s the li/e'.ave cycles do.n into -atter1 it gro.s .ith every y0ga !or age" grosser and -ore
-aterial1 0ntil the -iddle o/ the /o0rth ro0nd !o0rs"1 .hen it begins to ascend# Every ro0nd is
grosser than its preceding one 0ntil the present1 o0r /o0rth1 the -ost -aterial1 is reached#
This descent is called the shado.y arc1 or cycle o/ dar2ness# :e have1 already1 passed the
lo.est or -iddle period o/ the /o0rth ro0nd1 and in conseI0ence no. have beg0n the
ascending arc1 or the l0-ino0s arc# :e have three and a hal/ -ore ro0nds to r0n be/ore .e
reach the end o/ the 2alpa1 or planetary -anvantara1 .hen the great nirvana or paranirvana
o/ the entire septenary planetary chain o/ the seven globes ta2es place#
&o. as regards the geo-etrical o0tline o/ the co0rse /ollo.ed by this descent into -atter1 .e
-ay consider it to be in the /or- o/ an epicycloid# 9et -e try to e3plain diagra--atically .hat
is here -eant by an epicycloid# ,n epicycloid is /or-ed .hen a point on a s-all circle1 .hich
r0ns aro0nd and 0pon the conve3 side o/ the circ0-/erence o/ a larger circle1 traces a c0rve
.hich to0ches the circ0-/erence o/ the larger circle at the beginning and end o/ each
revol0tion o/ the s-aller circle there0pon1 as at , and % in the /ig0re# The c0rve ,% is the
epicycloid# For instance1 this /ig0re sho.s the t.o circles5 .e .ill say that the point on the
s-aller circle begins its c0rve at ,1 rolling 0p.ards to the le/t; at % the point on the s-aller
circle has co-pleted a /0ll revol0tion; the c0rve ,% is the epicycloid#
)n& point on this s-aller circle as the latter rolls along the o0tside o/ the circ0-/erence o/ the
larger circle .ill describe or generate a c0rve1 .hich is an epicycloid# There is a geo-etrical
relation bet.een the co--ens0rable radii o/ any t.o circles5 /or instance1 i/ the radi0s o/ this
s-aller circle is one and the radi0s o/ the larger circle is !e4en1 the proportion being 1 5 71 the
rolling point .ill describe or generate seven arcs or c0sps aro0nd and 0pon the
circ0-/erence o/ the larger circle#
Each one o/ these seven arcs represents here1 geo-etrically1 a globe o/ a ro0nd# !EI0ally
.ell does it represent geo-etrically one o/ the seven root'races on each globe d0ring any
ro0nd#" $n the /irst ro0nd1 the li/e'.ave1 starting /ro- the seventh or highest plane1 a"ter its
third /0ll ele-ental cycle o/ and in the ar0pa .orld1 begins to /or- the r0pa or /or- .orld; and
as the s-aller circle rolls along the circ0-/erence o/ the greater cycle1 so to say1 the li/e'
.ave !or globe" progressively gro.s -ore -aterial1 each one o/ these arcs .hich the cycling
s-aller circle -a2es on the circ0-/erence o/ the greater1 representing a sphere o/ being1 and
also geoetricall& represents the li/e'.ave o/ the planet beginning the evol0tion o/ -aterial
e3istence1 @rising 0p.ard@ or increasing in -aterial density 0ntil it reaches its -a3i-0- o/
-ateriality1 and then @descending@ or decreasing in -ateriality 0ntil it again to0ches the plane
o/ depart0re1 the circ0-/erence o/ the greater circle !or cycle"#
The process by .hich the spirit descends into -atter is called in Sans2rit %ra4ritti !.hich .e
-ay paraphrase into English as @earth'birth1@ or @earth'day@"1 practically the sa-e .ord as
evol0tion or e-anation in o0r -odern tong0es; and the process o/ entering 0pon or
ascending along the l0-ino0s arc1 0lti-ately to /ind itsel/ ho-e again in the spirit0al .orld1 is
called ni4ritti# %oth .ords are /ro- the Sans2rit root 4rit/ -eaning @to revolve@ or @to roll#@ The
pre/i3 %ra ans.ers to the preposition @/orth@ or @/or.ard1@ and the pre/i3 ni to the prepositional
phrases @o0t o/1@ @a.ay /ro-1@ hence bac2.ards1 or reverse action# ravritti is there/ore 0sed
to -ean the evol0tion or e-anation o/ -atter1 .hich is eI0ivalent to the invol0tion o/ spirit;
nivritti1 the evol0tion o/ spirit ? the reverse process#
:hat are the d0rations o/ the ti-e periods d0ring .hich the li/e'.ave -ani/ests in the
-anvantara o/ seven ro0nds1 and in the seven respective planets o/ each ro0nd; ,s A# #
%lavats2y has told 0s1 the doctrines concerning the ti-e periods have been /ro- i--e-orial
ti-e considered too esoteric to be given to the o0t.ard .orld in anything at all approaching
/0llness o/ teaching or detail1 b0t thro0gho0t the teachings that have been openly given there
are -any hints o/ i--ense val0e# For instance1 the ti-e reI0ired /or one ro0nd ? that is1 the
cycle /ro- globe , to the last globe o/ the seven !.e .ill call it H"1 starting /ro- the root'7an0
or collective @h0-anity@ o/ globe , and ending .ith the seed'7an0 or collective @h0-anity@ o/
globe H ? is called a ro0nd'-anvantara1 and its period is 3)C172)1))) years# $t is called
-anvantara beca0se it is the @reign o/ one 7an0@ ? say1 a certain Hualit& o/ h0-anity# &o.
this .ordan4antara is Sans2rit and -eans @bet.een 7an0s1@ i#e#1 bet.een a root'7an0 on
globe , and the seed'7an0 on globe H1 /or a ro0nd'-anvantara# &o. to this period o/
3)C172)1))) years -0st be added the length o/ the !andhi1 -eaning @connection1@ or
@>0nction1@ or interval1 according to a certain -ethod o/ calc0lation1 necessary in order /0lly to
co-plete the evol0tion o/ the planet /or the ro0nd; this sandhi is o/ the length o/ a 2rita y0ga1
or 1172+1))) years1 .hich brings the co-plete period or ter- o/ a round'-anvantara to
3)+1**+1))) years o/ -ortals# ,s has already been stated1 there is1 a/ter the end o/ every
ro0nd1 an obsc0ration .hich also lasts /or a certain period .hich .e do not here speci/y#
%0t ho. long a period do the !e4en ro0nds ta2e /or their co0rse; :hat is the period o/ a
-aha'-anvantara1 or great -anvantara1 so-eti-es called a 2alpa1 a/ter .hich the globes no
longer go into -ere obsc0ration or repose1 b0t die 0tterly; The period o/ the -aha'
-anvantara or 2alpa is also called a =ay o/ %rah-a1 and its length is *132)1)))1))); and the
&ight o/ %rah-a1 the planetary rest period1 .hich is also called the paranirvanic period1 is o/
eI0al length# Seven ro0nds1 as said1 /or- a =ay o/ %rah-a#
These /ig0res are the %rah-anical /ig0res1 and they are also the /ig0res o/ esoteric
%0ddhis- !/or .e insist that %0ddhis- ha! an esoteric doctrine"# The root'n0-ber *321 as
any st0dent 2no.s1 is also /o0nd in the chronological doctrines o/ ancient %abylonia; it is
li2e.ise the real -eaning in the chronological line o/ the ythagorean Tetra2tys1 1''2''3''*1
the *32 springing /ro- the 0nity or -onad1 a s0b>ect o/ .hich .e spo2e in o0r last st0dy#
:e are also told that the d0ration o/ a planet8s li/e1 i#e#1 o/ a planetary chain o/ seven globes1
is one o/ 3C) di4ine =ays1 corresponding to adi4ine Near1 and that %rah-a8s 9i/e !or the li/e
o/ the 0niversal syste-" is one h0ndred o/ those divine Nears ? e3pressed in 1( /ig0res o/
years o/ -ortals# , planetary -anvantara is also related to the d0ration o/ li/e o/ a solar
syste-; a planetary -anvantara !or seven ro0nds" is a =ay o/ %rah-a1 as already said; each
o/ these =ays lasting *132)1)))1))) years o/ -ortals1 .hich really -eans the li"etie o" a
%lanet during it! !e4en round!/ and corresponding to one incarnation o/ a h0-an li/e on
earth#
Ao. long1 then1 does %rah-a live in any one o/ his -ani/ested 0niverses1 .hich .e 2no. are
called the @o0tbreathings o/ the Sel/'E3istent@; :e can calc0late it ? *132)1)))1))) ti-es
1))1 ti-es 3C)1 or in other .ords1 3C1)))1 lives has any planet to live be/ore the pra2riti2a'
pralaya !or the eleental pralaya" sets in1 the end o/ that li/e !or pravritti" o/ the 0niversal
syste-#
:hat happens .hen co-es the end o/ a solar syste-; ,t a /or-er -eeting .e spo2e o/ the
@bells o/ pralaya#@ $t .as .ith no intention o/ atte-pting to be rhetorical1 or o/ e-ploying
oratorical phraseology that .e 0sed this phrase# :e have no s0ch a-bition# :e chose the
.ords beca0se the teachings are that .hen the great !or -aha'" pralaya co-es 0pon the
planets o/ any syste- and their s0n1 then strange noises o/ vario0s 2inds are heard in the air
o/ a planet belonging to s0ch a solar syste-; and these noises are repeated in -iniat0re1 so
to say1 not only at the end o/ the planetary -anvantara !or the li/eti-e o/ the planet"1 b0t also
in still s-aller -iniat0re at the end o/ every ro0nd# These pheno-ena are also all0ded to in
other religions than the $ndian1 as /or instance in the 6hristian and Ee.ish5 in Revelation1
C51*; and in $saiah1 3*5*# The 6hristian .riters spea2 o/ the ti-e1 2 eter1 351)1 12'131 .hen
the @ele-ents shall -elt .ith /ervent heat1@ and @the heavens shall pass a.ay .ith a great
noise1@ b0t they @loo2 /or ne. heavens and a ne. earth@ ? or a ne. planetary -anvantara ?
and all0de to pralaya as the ti-e .hen @the heaven departed as a scroll .hen it is rolled
together1@ etc# These all0sions to pralayic disintegration are /ig0rative to a certain e3tent1 b0t
are s0//iciently along the lines o/ the ancient Eastern tho0ght to sho. 0s .hence they ca-e ?
/ro- the archaic .isdo-'religion !theosophy" o/ the 4rient# :e are told that so-e o/ the
strange noises that .ill occ0r to.ards the end o/ the pra2riti2a'-anvantara1 be/ore the
cos-ic or pra2riti2a'pralaya sets in1 are strange hollo. boo-ings1 strange crac2lings as o/
-0s2etry /ire1 strange bell'li2e ringings as o/ the snapping o/ i--ense -etallic belts#
&o. the s0n is both the heart and the brain o/ o0r solar syste-1 and sends seven'/aceted li/e
into every ato- o/ its 0niverse1 the solar 0niverse o/ .hich .e and o0r planet Terra are a
part# The s0n itsel/ is in so-e respects a va-pire1 b0t it is also pree-inently and essentially a
li/e'giver# $t is1 cos-ogonically1 o0r elder brother1 and not at all o0r physical parent as -odern
scienti/ic .iseacres .o0ld have it# $t is also in a vital sense o0r /ather'-other1 beca0se
thro0gh it1 /ro- planes s0perior to o0r o.n1 co-e do.n the li/e'strea-s /ro- .orlds
!syste-s" above o0rs ? yet o0r planet1 as all the other planets1 also in a relative degree
receives these li/e'strea-s1 as every individ0al ato- and every h0-an being1 in the s-allest
-iniat0re thereo/1 receives the sa-e individ0ally /ro- the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost .ithin itsel/ or
hi-sel/# This is1 as yo0 .ill re-e-ber .as stated in /or-er st0dies the sa-e spirit0al li/e;
b0t co!icall&1 that is to say1 .ith regard to the 0niverse1 the s0n is the brain and heart o/ o0r
syste-1 vitaliDing and in/or-ing the endless hosts o/ beings 0nder its syste-ic s.ay#
:e do not see the !tr0e" s0n# The s0n is not b0rning1 or incandescent# Aeat e3ists aro0nd the
s0n1 b0t it is not /ro- b0rning gases or incandescence# :e see the s0n8s robes1 or re/lection1
b0t .e do not see the s0n itsel/# $t is1 in very tr0th1 a spirit0al thing1 and .e thin2 .e receive
o0r entire s0pply o/ heat and light /ro- it beca0se the "orce! /lo.ing /ro- the s0n act in
con>0nction and reactively .ith the /orces on o0r o.n earth ? /orces .or2ing in the 0niversal
nat0re aro0nd 0s# $/ -ost o/ o0r light is d0e to the s0n1 this is not the case .ith 7( percent o/
the heat .hich .e receive1 .hich co-es ? -ost o/ it ? /ro- o0r o.n globe and its /orces1 and
especially /ro- the i--ensely thic2 clo0ds o/ cos-ic d0st .hich /ills all space# The
electro-agnetic /orces at .or2 bet.een this cos-ic d0st and o0r earth /0rnish -ost o/ the
terrestrial heat#
$ .ish this evening be/ore closing to call yo0r attention to the /act that the ancient initiate'
astrono-ers1 .hen spea2ing o/ the seven sacred spheres o/ o0r 0niverse ? the seven or nine
in .hich the bodies o/ the solar syste- and the stars .ere set1 beyond .hich .as the
E-pyrean or the /iery sphere ? desired to convey a -eaning .hich is no. lost1 /or the
-asses# There .as a -eaning o/ deep and .ide signi/icance also in
theirgeocentric teachings# They 2ne. as .ell as do .e !and .e have proo/s o/ it"1 that the
earth and the other planets .hirl aro0nd the s0n in elliptical orbits1 b0t they had a reason /or
teaching the geocentric doctrines in p0blic1 and so-e day .e shall have need to go into an
analysis and proo/ o/ this assertion#
9et 0s close o0r evening8s st0dy in calling attention to the /act that theosophy is a doctrine o/
hope; it is a doctrine o/ spirit0ality; it is a doctrine .hich re/ines and elevates -an; it is a
doctrine in .hich there is roo- /or the h0-blest to 0nderstand so-ething and /or the
brightest and highest and -ost spirit0al o/ 0s to p0t o0r /eet on the lo.est steps o/ that
spirit0al stair along .hich .e -ay cli-b in hierarchical ascendings 0p to the highest1 not only
in o0r o.n planet1 hand in hand .ith the great %0ddhas o/ /or-er ti-es and o/ the ti-es to
co-e1 b0t beyond o0r planet and beyond o0r o.n solar syste- into those illi-itable spirit0al
spheres in .hich the solar syste- no. e3ists1 and thro0gh .hich .e derive o0r li/e ?
spirit0al1 -ental1 psychical1 pranic1 and physical#
hapter Ten
The =octrine o/ S.abhava ! $el#-Beco(in) ! haracteristic 'ndividuality.
.an/ $el#-Evolved/ ,is Own reator. %.onadolo)ie% o# +ei0ni1
ontrasted with Teachin)s o# the Esoteric Philosophy.
The 74&,= e-erges /ro- its state o/ spirit0al and intellect0al 0nconscio0sness; and1
s2ipping the /irst t.o planes ? too near the ,%S49UTE to per-it o/ any correlation .ith
anything on a lo.er plane ? it gets direct into the plane o/ 7entality# %0t there is no plane
in the .hole 0niverse .ith a .ider -argin1 or a .ider /ield o/ action in its al-ost endless
gradations o/ perceptive and apperceptive I0alities1 than this plane1 .hich has in its t0rn
an appropriate s-aller plane /or every @/or-1@ /ro- the @-ineral@ -onad 0p to the ti-e
.hen that -onad blosso-s /orth by evol0tion into the =$F$&E 74&,=# %0t all the ti-e it
is still one and the sa-e 7onad1 di//ering only in its incarnations1 thro0gho0t its ever
s0cceeding cycles o/ partial or total obsc0ration o/ spirit1 or the partial or total obsc0ration
o/ -atter ? t.o polar antitheses ? as it ascends into the real-s o/ -ental spirit0ality1 or
descends into the depths o/ -ateriality# ? The Secret Doctrine/ $1 17(
$n other .ords1 no p0rely spirit0al %0ddhi !divine So0l" can have an independent
!conscio0s" e3istence be/ore the spar2 .hich iss0ed /ro- the p0re Essence o/ the
Universal Si3th principle1 ? or the 4FER'S4U91 ? has !a" passed thro0gh every ele-ental
/or- o/ the pheno-enal .orld o/ that 7anvantara1 and !b" acI0ired individ0ality1 /irst by
nat0ral i-p0lse1 and then by sel/'ind0ced and sel/'devised e//orts !chec2ed by its <ar-a"1
th0s ascending thro0gh all the degrees o/ intelligence1 /ro- the lo.est to the highest
7anas1 /ro- -ineral and plant1 0p to the holiest archangel !=hyani'%0ddha"# The pivotal
doctrine o/ the Esoteric philosophy ad-its no privileges or special gi/ts in -an1 save those
.on by his o.n Ego thro0gh personal e//ort and -erit thro0gho0t a long series o/
-ete-psychoses and reincarnations# ? $bid#1 $1 17
The general te3t o/ o0r st0dy this evening is /o0nd in The Secret Doctrine/vol0-e $1 page +31
stanDa 31 verse 1)5
1)# F,TAER'74TAER S$& , :E% :A4SE UER E&= $S F,STE&E= T4 S$R$T
!$uru!ha"1 TAE 9$BAT 4F TAE 4&E =,R<&ESS1 ,&= TAE 94:ER 4&E T4 7,TTER
!$ra2riti" $TS !the S%iritE!" SA,=4:N E&=; ,&= TA$S :E% $S TAE U&$FERSE SU&
4UT 4F TAE T:4 SU%ST,&6ES 7,=E $& 4&E1 :A$6A $S S:,%A,F,T !aB#
!a" $n the 7and02ya !70nda2a" Upanishad it is .ritten1 @,s a spider thro.s o0t and
retracts its .eb1 as herbs spring 0p in the gro0nd # # # so is the Universe derived /ro- the
0ndecaying one@ !$# 1# 7"# %rah-a1 as @the ger- o/ 0n2no.n =ar2ness1@ is the -aterial
/ro- .hich all evolves and develops @as the .eb /ro- the spider1 as /oa- /ro- the .ater1@
etc# This is only graphic and tr0e1 i/ %rah-a the @creator@ is1 as a ter-1 derived /ro- the
root 6rih/ to increase or e3pand# %rah-a @e3pands@ and beco-es the Universe .oven o0t
o/ his o.n s0bstance#
The sa-e idea has been bea0ti/0lly e3pressed by Boethe1 .ho says5
@Th0s at the roaring loo- o/ Ti-e $ ply1 O,nd .eave /or Bod the gar-ent tho0 see8st Ai-
by#@
$n the co0rse o/ o0r st0dies .e have been advancing stage by stage1 step by step1 /ro-
general principles1 and o0r co0rse has been al.ays to.ards that point o/ e-anation and
evol0tion .hich /inds itsel/ at the da.n o/ -ani/estation1 or the opening o/ -anvantara# :e
have to0ched 0pon -any s0b>ects b0t lightly1 beca0se the intricacy o/ the the-e did not at
the ti-e per-it 0s to go into and to /ollo. side'aven0es o/ tho0ght1 ho.ever attractive and
i-portant they -ight be; b0t these aven0es .e shall have to e3plore as ti-e and opport0nity
bring once -ore be/ore 0s1 in the co0rse o/ o0r st0dy1 the portals .hich .e have passed and
perhaps have -erely glanced into#
:e have bro0ght to the attention o/ those .ho .ill read these st0dies certain /0nda-ental
nat0ral principles1 as /0nda-ental and i-portant in their respective bearings as the t.o
/o0ndation stones o/ pop0lar theosophy today1 called reincarnation and 2ar-a# 4ne o/ these
principles is the doctrine o/ hierarchies1 0pon .hich -0ch -ore co0ld be said1 and .ill be
said in d0e ti-e#
,nother s0ch /0nda-ental principle or doctrine ? a tr0e 2ey opening the very heart o/ being
and1 besides other things1 reaching into the root'-eaning o/ the so'called origin o/ evil and o/
the inner 0rge to.ards right and righteo0sness1 .hich -an calls his -oral sense ? is that
.hich /lo.s /orth /ro- the philosophical conceptions behind the .ord !wa6ha4a1 -eaning1
generally1 the essential characteristic o/ anything# The -edieval scholastics spo2e o/ this
essentiality o/ things as their Huiddita!1 orHuiddit& ? the @.hatness@ o/ anything5 that .hich is
its heart1 its essential nat0re1 its characteristic essentiality# The .ord !wa6ha4a !a no0n" itsel/
is derived /ro- the Sans2rit root 6hu1 -eaning @to beco-e1@ or @to be1@ and the
pre/i3 !4a !or !wa" is also Sans2rit and -eans @sel/#@ The .ord th0s translated -eans @sel/'
beco-ingness1@ a technical ter-1 a 2ey .ord1 in .hich philosophical conceptions o/ i--ense
and .ide'reaching i-port inhere# :e shall develop so-e o/ these -ore /0lly as .e proceed
.ith o0r st0dies#
$n the I0otation /ro- the stanDas .hich .e have read this evening1 yo0 .ill have noticed the
.ord !wa6ha4at/ /ro- the sa-e ele-ents as is s.abhava1 /ro- the sa-e Sans2rit
root# Swa6ha4at is the present participle o/ the verb 6hu/ -eaning @that .hich beco-es
itsel/1@ orde4elo%! "ro within outwardl& it! e!!ential !el" by e-anation1 evol0tion; in other
.ords1 that .hich by !el"1urge de4elo%! the %otencie! latent in it! nature/ in its !el"/ in
its 6eing o" 6eing# :e have o/ten spo2en o/ the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost as i-plying that in-ost
lin2 or root by .hich .e !and all other things" /lo. /orth /ro- the very essence o/ the heart o/
things1 .hich is o0r UTTER SE9F1 and .e have spo2en o/ it so-eti-es .ith the hand placed
0pon the breast; b0t .e -0st be e3ceedingly care/0l not to thin2 that this $n-ost o/ the
$n-ost is in the physical body# 9et -e e3plain >0st .hat $ -ean# The Gabbalists divide the
planes o/ nat0re into .hich the ten Sephiroth beca-e ? I0eer English this1 b0t very
acc0rately and correctly e3pressing the tho0ght ? into /o0r d0ring -ani/estation1 and they
.ere called the /o0r Iola1 a .ord having originally the -eaning o/ @concealed@ or @hid@ or
@secret1@ b0t also 0sed /or @ti-e1@ li2e.ise 0sed al-ost e3actly in the sense o/ the Bnostic
teaching o/ @aions@ !aeons" as spheres1 lo2as in Sans2rit# The highest o/ the Gabbalistic
Tola-s1 or spheres1 .as Iola at!iloth1 -eaning the @aeon@ or @age@ or the @lo2a@ o/
@condensation#@ The second .as called Tola ha616eriah/ -eaning the aeon or age or lo2a o/
@creation#@ The third in descent and increasing -ateriality .as called Iola ha1&et!irah or
lo2a o/ @/or-#@ The /o0rth1 last1 -ost -aterial and grossest1 .as called Iola
ha1Ea!iah/-eaning the aeon or .orld o/ @action@ or @ca0ses#@ This last plane or sphere or
.orld is the lo.est o/ the /o0r1 and is so-eti-es called the .orld o/ -atter or1 again1 o/
@shells1@ -an !and other physical entities" so-eti-es being considered a shell in the sense o/
being the gar-ent or the vehicle or corp0s o/ the ind.elling spirit#
&o. %!&chologicall& these /o0r spheres .ere considered as being copied1 or re/lected1 or as
having a loc0s !place" in the h0-an body; and in order to correspond .ith the /o0r basic
principles into .hich the Ee.ish Gabbalistic philosophers divided -an1 nesha-ah !or spirit"
.as s0pposed to have its loc0s in the head1 or rather hovering thereover; the second1 r0ahh
!or so0l"1 .as s0pposed to have its loc0s or center in the breast or chest; the third1 the lo.est
o/ the active principles1 called nephesh !or the ani-al'astral so0l"1 .as s0pposed to have its
loc0s or center in the abdo-en# The /o0rth vehicle .as g0ph1 or the inclosing shell o/ the
physical body# The nesha-ah1 the highest o/ all1 /ro- .hich the others e-anated stage by
stage ? the r0ahh /ro- nesha-ah1 the nephesh /ro- r0ahh1 and the g0ph /ro- nephesh !the
g0ph act0ally is the linga'sarira1 esoterically1 and !ecrete! the h0-an physical body" ?
sho0ld not be considered so -0ch in the head as o4er!hadowing/ as it .ere1 the head and
body# $t -ay be li2ened to a solar ray1 or to an electric ray1 or again to the so'called Bolden
6hain o/ the great Bree2 poet Ao-er and the /ar later &eoplatonic philosophers1 .hich
connects He0s and all lo.er entities; or to the chain o/ beings in a hierarchy lin2ed by their
hypar3is .ith the lo.est plane o/ the ne3t higher hierarchy#
This $n-ost o/ the $n-ost is in that part o/ 0s .hich overshado.s 0s1 .hich is a6o4e 0s
physically1 rather than in 0s# ,nd it really is o0r spirit0al -onad# There/ore1 be/ore .e can
2no. .hat .e -ean by s.abhava1 and the .onder/0l doctrine /0nda-entally e-anating
there/ro-1 .e -0st 0nderstand .hat .e -ean by -onad and the sense in .hich the .ord
-onad is 0sed# Those .ho .ere st0dents o/ A# # %lavats2y .hile she .as alive .ith 0s1 and
.ho have st0died 0nder :# G# E0dge and <atherine Tingley1 .ill realiDe the necessity o/
-a2ing o0r sense clear by choosing .ords .hich shall convey clearly and sensibly1 and
.itho0t possibility o/ -isconception1 the tho0ghts .hich lie behind the .ords# $n E0ropean
philosophy1 -onad1 as a philosophical .ord1 see-s to have been /irst e-ployed by the great
$talian philosopher1 the noted Biordano %r0no1 in tho0ght a &eoplatonist1 .ho derived his
inspiration /ro- the philosophy o/ Breece no. called &eoplatonis-# , -ore -odern 0se o/
the .ord -onad1 in a spirit0al'philosophical sense1 .as that o/ the Slavic'Ber-an
philosopher1 9eibniD# 7onadis- /or-ed the heart o/ all his teachings1 and he said that the
0niverse .as co-posed1 b0ilt 0p1 o/ -onads5 that is to say1 he conceived the- to be spirit0al
centers having no e3tension1 b0t having an inner and inherent energy o/ develop-ent1 the
respective hosts o/ -onads being o/ vario0s degrees and each one achieving its o.n
develop-ent by an innate characteri!tic nature !or s.abhava"# The essential -eaning o/ this1
as it is at once seen1 ischaracteri!tic indi4idualit&1 .hich is !el"/ p0rs0ing its o.n 0n/old-ent
and gro.ing by stages higher and higher thro0gh !el"1un"olding or !el"16ecoing !or
s.abhava"# 9eibniD ta0ght that these -onads .ere connected1 spirit0ally1 psychically1 and
physically1 by a @la. o/ har-ony1@ as he e3pressed it1 .hich is o0r s.abhavat ? the @Sel/'
E3istent1@ developing d0ring -ani/estation into the hosts o/ -onads1 or -onadic centers#
9eibniD see-s to have ta2en !at least in part" the -ain philosophical conception as regards
his -onads1 as developed in his philosophy ? in his Monadologie ? /ro- the Fle-ish -ystic1
Fan Ael-ont# This -an Fan Ael-ont1 ho.ever1 too2 it /ro- %r0no or1 perhaps1 directly1 as
%r0no did1 /ro- the &eoplatonic philosophers# ,s /ar as the basic ideas o/ %r0no1 Fan
Ael-ont1 and 9eibniD go1 they very -0ch rese-ble each other; they rese-ble also the
teaching on this s0b>ect o/ the esoteric .isdo-1 esoteric theosophy1 b0t only in so /ar as .e
consider ani"e!tation1 beca0se the -onads the-selves1 in their 0lti-ate1 enter into the
@silence and dar2ness1@ as ythagoras .o0ld have p0t it1 .hen the great -aha'pralaya or
cos-ical dissol0tion begins# , -onad in the ancient teachings no. called theosophy ?
re-e-ber that @theosophy@ really -eans the .isdo- .hich the gods or divine beings st0dy1
a tr0ly divine thing ? -eans a spirit0al ato- !.e are co-pelled here to 0se pop0lar
lang0age"1 and a spirit0al ato- is eI0ivalent to saying p0re individ0ality1 the sel/ness o/ the
sel/1 the essential nat0re or characteristic or s.abhavic core o/ every spirit0al being1
the !el" o/ itsel/# This esoteric .isdo- derives this sel/ ? not its ego1 .hich is an entirely
di//erent and lo.er and in/erior thing ? it derives this di4ine -onad1 this divine s0bstance'
conscio0sness1 /ro- the ara-at-an1 the so'called s0pre-e sel/1 not that this s0pre-e sel/
is Bod in the c0rio0sly contradictory 6hristian sense1 b0t s0pre-e in the sense o/ absol0te1
0nconditioned1 and all'pervading 0niversality /or and in a single cos-ical aggregation o/
hierarchies1 /or it is the s0--it1 ac-e1 pinnacle1 and !ource thereo/#
$/ .e re-e-ber .hat .e have st0died in this connection1 and the conceptions that .e
/ig0rated on the blac2board by -eans o/ diagra-s1 .e shall recollect that .e represented the
highest that .e co0ld intellect0ally conceive o/ as a triangle1 /ig0ring it th0s in o0r -inds# &ot
that this highest act0ally i! a triangle1 .hich .o0ld be l0dicro0s1 b0t .e represented it
diagra--atically to o0rselves in that /ashion; and the highest sphere ? in the -athe-atical
sense o/ being .itho0t physical e3tension aswe conceive o/ s0ch ? /ro- .hich all the
s0cceeding ten steps1 planes1 degrees o/ any hierarchy radiated1 .e called the %o0ndless1
the :itho0t %o0nds1 the #&n So%h as the Gabbalists said; and the t.o aspects o/ the
%o0ndless /or-ed1 so to spea21 the t.o sides o/ this divine triangle1 one o/ these t.o aspects
being arabrah-an !beyond %rah-an"1 and the other being 70lapra2riti !or root'nat0re"# $t
-0st be re-e-bered1 in this connection1 that any diagra--atic representation -ay and
o/ten does /ig0rate di//erent conceptions .hen the pre-ises di//er# ,nd ne3t1 that /ro- this
divine triangle there .as a re/lection1 as it .ere1 an e-anation1 into the lo.er shado.1 into
the s0bstance or -atter belo.1 the rays o/ the 0pper s0n shining into the lo.er at-osphere1
so to say1 and ill0-inating it1 and that this lo.er ill0-inated at-osphere or s0bstance .as
called the lo.er -onad1 and the 0pper .as called the higher -onad; and that1 as the energy
or li/e'.aves s.ept do.n.ards thro0gh the second -onad or the lo.er -onad1 the sI0are or
-ani/ested nat0re ca-e into being as the third stage o/ evol0tion# :ith the pre-ises be/ore
stated1 there/ore1 this 0pper triangle1 .hich -ay be considered as one1 or a trinity in 0nity1 is
the 0pper -onad1 or the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost1 the sel/ o/ the sel/; and the lo.er triangle is its
e-anation1 its three lines representing Father1 7other1 and Son# The Father1 again1 -ay be
considered as the pri-al point o/ the second or lo.er triangle1 that is to say1 the point /or-ing
the ape3 o/ the triangle1 .hich is a laya'center thro0gh .hich strea- do.n into o0r sphere
the -ani/esting /orces .hich the!el4e! 6ecoe the 0niverse#
Aerein .e -ay see an e3a-ple o/ the philosophical val0e o/ the hierarchical syste-
considered as a representation o/ nat0re8s sy--etrical architect0re1 beca0se each stage o/
the do.n.ard progress1 each step or plane do.n.ards1 is in/or-ed1 inso0led1 by the 0pper
parts .hich reainabove; .hile the lo.er planes or parts are spirit0ally and ethereally and
physically secreted and e3creted step by step1 plane a/ter plane1 and cast /orth li2e /oa- on
the s0bstratal .aves o/ li/e# The physical nat0re as .e see it even on this o0r o.n plane is1
so to spea21 concreted divinity1 and it act0ally is concreted light1 beca0se light is ethereal
-atter or s0bstance#
So-e day .e shall have to st0dy this I0estion o/ spirit and s0bstance1 /orce and -atter1 and
their relations and interactions1 -ore thoro0ghly than .e have been able to do th0s /ar in o0r
lect0res#
&o.1 /ro- the highest o/ the highest1 /ro- .hat is to 0s the 0n2no.n o/ the 0n2no.n1 the
$n-ost o/ the $n-ost1 thro0gh all these planes1 there strea-s do.n1 as it .ere1 the divine ray1
passing /ro- one hierarchy to another hierarchy belo. it1 and then to another still lo.er1 and
then to a third yet -ore -aterial1 and so on till the li-it o/ the cos-ical aggregate is reached1
.hen it begins to ascend along the st0pendo0s ro0nd1 ret0rning to.ards its pri-al so0rce#
&ote care/0lly that as it descends it e4ol4e! the!e 4ariou! hierarchie! "ro it!el"8 and on its
ascending ro0nd dra.s the- bac2 into itsel/ again# S0rro0nding this i--ense spirit0al
aggregate1 .e are ta0ght to conceive an a0ra1 as it .ere1 ta2ing the shape o/ an egg1 .hich
.e can call1 /ollo.ing the e3a-ple o/ the Gabbalists1 theShechinah/ a Aebre. .ord -eaning
@d.elling@ or @vehicle1@ or .hat the esoteric philosophy calls the a0ric egg in the case o/ -an1
and representing in this paradig-atic sche-e the 0niverse .hich .e see aro0nd 0s in its
highest aspects1 /or this a0ra is the very o0tgro.th o/ 70lapra2riti; .hile this -ystical line
.hich .e dra. in the /ig0re as r0nning do.n thro0gh all the vario0s grades o/ the hierarchy is
the strea- o/ the sel/1 the Unconditioned 6onscio0sness1 .elling 0p in the in-ost o/
everything#
To co-e bac2 to the .ord !wa6ha4at/ the @sel/'beco-ing1@ the @sel/'e3isting@5 it is1 in the
s0perspirit0al1 /ollo.ing the above paradig-1 the second di4ine -onad or
second di4ine 9ogos; or1 loo2ing at it in another and lo.er .ay1 it is the /irst co!ic -onad1
the re/lection o/ the pri-eval or pri-al divine -onad above it1 and is the /irst -ani/estation or
I0iver o/ cos-ic li/e .hen1 the end o/ 0niversal pralaya having co-e1 the cry goes /orth1 so to
say1 on the .atchto.er o/ eternity1 @9et there be -ani/estation and lightK@
The Elohi- in a /or-er stage .ere -onads; and yo0 re-e-ber that .e -ade o0r o.n
translation o/ verses 2(1 2C1 and 27 o/ the /irst chapter o/ Benesis1 and .e sa. that these
Elohi- said1 @9et 0s -a2e -an in o0r o.n shado. or phanto- !in o0r o.n shado.'selves or
-atter'selves"1 and in o0r o.n pattern1@ that is1 they -ade -an by 6ecoing hi-; stated in
other .ords1 h0-anity i! the lo.er principles o/ the Elohi- the-selves as -onads#
So the -onad is the in-ost o/ o0rselves1 not as a so0l1 as a @gi/t o/ Bod1@ b0t as the highest
part o/ o0rselves; and o0r very bodies are concreted spirit1 .hich is on thi! plane the lo.est1
the shado.y end1 the -atter'end1 o/ the sel/'hierarchy .hich each one o/ 0s is#
9et 0s re-e-ber again that each hierarchy has its s.abhava or speci/ic characteristic# To
e3e-pli/y it by colors1 one hierarchy is predo-inantly bl0e1 another is predo-inantly red1
another green1 another yello. or golden1 and so on; b0t each one has its o.n /orty'nine roots
or divisions1 /orty'nine aspects o/ the one 0nderlying root's0bstance coon to all/so that o/
necessity each one o/ these /orty'nine in its t0rn develops one o/ the other colors# So that1 i/
.e co0ld perceive it spirit0ally1 .e sho0ld see all nat0re aro0nd 0s every.here /lashing and
cor0scating in a -ost -arvelo0s interplay o/ colors ? a .onder/0l pict0reK This is sheer /act1
not a -etaphor# ,nd1 /0rther-ore1 there is /or every 2os-os a cos-ic hierarchy .hich
incl0des all the lesser hierarchies thereo/1 and each hierarchy1 large or s-all1 is lin2ed on1
above and belo. !or o0t.ard and in.ard"1 to other hierarchies1 higher and lo.er1 and each
separate1 individ0al hierarchy consists o/ nine !or ten" planes or degrees# Seven o/ these are1
thro0gho0t1 on the -ani/esting planes# Aence1 a hierarchy1 strictly spea2ing1 consists o/ ten
planes ho0sing ten states o/ -atter and ten /orces1 b0t seven thereo/ are ani"e!ting /orces;
the seven in -ani/estation r0n /ro- the ar0pa !or /or-less" to the r0pa !or /or-" .orlds1 and
they are all lin2ed together1 coordinated together1 co-bined together1 beyond present h0-an
conception or 0nderstanding#
$t is along these lines o/ spirit0al tho0ght that the dog-atic religio0s or scienti/ic syste-
I0arrels1 i/ .e -ay 0se this e3pression1 .ith the esoteric philosophy1 beca0se that syste- is
based ? at least as regards the scienti/ic vie. ? 0pon p0rely -echanical and -aterialistic
hypotheses invented by the scientists o/ the last cent0ry concerning the nat0re and action o/
.hat is called -atter and /orce1 as i/ there co0ld in reason be a tr0e de/inition or e3planation
o/ these t.o on a basis o/ /ort0ito0s -echanicalis- arising o0t o/ 0tterly li/eless @-atter#@
9et 0s say no.1 altho0gh it is departing a little /ro- o0r -ain the-e1 that /orce is si-ply
-atter on a higher plane ? ethereal -atter1 i/ yo0 .ill; and that physical -atter is si-ply /orce
on o0r plane# 7atter act0ally is na0ght b0t concreted /orce; or1 to reverse the idea1 /orce is
nothing b0t s0bli-ated or etherealiDed -atter1 beca0se the t.o1 -atter and spirit1 are one# $t
is best and tr0est to say that -atter is concreted or co-pacted /orce1 >0st as nat0re !-atter
as .e 2no. it" is eI0ilibrated spirit#
:e -ay once -ore ret0rn to this .onder/0l teaching o/ s.abhava1 a/ter this rather long b0t
necessary e3planation or introd0ction# The -onad is o0r in-ost sel/; each -an has his o.n1
or rather i! his o.n1 -onad# Each being o/ .hatever degree or 2ind has its partic0lar
characteristic nat0re ? not -erely the o0ter or vehic0lar characteristics that change /ro-
incarnation to incarnation1 and /ro- -anvantara to -anvantara ? b0t every entity1 high or
lo.1 has1 so to say1 a 2eynote o/ its being# This is its s.abhava5 the sel/hood o/ the sel/1 the
essential characteristic o/ the sel/1 by the 0rge o/ .hich the sel/ beco-es the -any selves1
prod0cing and -ani/esting the hosts o/ varied I0alities and types and degrees# &o. note
care/0lly5 the urge 6ehind evol0tion or develop-ent is not e3ternal to the evolving entity
b0t within it!el"8 and the /0t0re res0lts to be achieved in evol0tion ? that which the e4ol4ing
entit& 6ecoe! ? lie in ger- or seed in it!el"8 both this 0rge and this ger- or seed arise o0t o/
one thing1 and TA$S $S $TS S:,%A,F,#
Re-e-ber .hat .e said in o0r /or-er st0dy abo0t the nat0re and evol0tion o/ the 0niverse#
:hat is a ? or any ? 0niverse; $t is a !el"1contained and !el"1!u!tained and !el"1
!u""icient entit& in ani"e!tation/ b0t is -erely one o/ co0ntless hosts o/ other 0niverses1 all
children o/ the %o0ndless# There is1 /or instance1 an ato-ic 0niverse1 and a terrestrial or
planetary 0niverse1 and a h0-an 0niverse1 and a solar 0niverse1 and so on inde/initely; yet all
hang together1 interpenetrate each other1 and /or- any cos-ical aggregate# ,nd ho. and
.hy; %eca0se each 0niverse1 great or s-all1 is a hierarchy1 and each hierarchy represents
and is the develop-ent o/ and is a part o/ the spirit0al 0rge and evolving ger- arising o0t o/
the sel/ thereo/1 o/ the sel/ o/ each1 each developing and evolving its o.n partic0lar essential
characteristic; and all these /orces ta2en together are the s.abhava o/ any entity# S.abhava1
in short1 -ay be called the essential individ0ality o/ any -onad1 e3pressing its o.n
characteristics1 I0alities1 and type1 by !el"1urged e4olution+
:e sho0ld note also in passing that perhaps the -ost -ystic school in %0ddhis-1 .hich A#
# %lavats2y says has practically 2ept -ost /aith/0lly to this one o/ the esoteric teachings o/
Ba0ta-a %0ddha1 is a school still e3tant in &epal1 .hich is called the S.abhavi2a school1 a
Sans2rit ad>ective derived /ro- the no0n s.abhava; this school co-prises those .ho /ollo.
the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 or the doctrine .hich teaches the beco-ing or 0n/olding o/ the sel/
by inner i-p0lse ? the !el"'beco-ing# :e do not1 according to it1 beco-e @thro0gh the grace
o/ a Bod#@ :e6ecoe .hatever .e are or are to be thro0gh o0r o.n selves; .e -a2e
o0rselves1 derive o0rselves /ro- o0rselves1 beco-e o0r o.n children; have al.ays done so1
and .ill /orever do so# This applies not only to -an1 b0t to all beings every.here# Aerein .e
see the root1 the /orce1 the -eaning1 o/ -orals# Responsible /or every act .e do1 /or every
tho0ght .e thin21 responsible to the 0tter-ost /arthing1 never anything @/orgiven1@ never
anything @.iped o0t1@ e3cept .hen .e o0rselves t0rn the evil .e have done into good# :e
shall have to disc0ss -ore /0lly1 so-e ti-e1 the I0estion o/ the origin o/ evil .hich is involved
herein# :e -ay note in passing that this school is called @atheistic@ and @-aterialistic1@ si-ply
beca0se o/ t.o reasons5 /irst1 the pro/o0nd tho0ght o/ this doctrine is -isinterpreted by
4ccidental scholars; second1 -any o/ its /ollo.ers have1 in /act1 degenerated#
No0 see i--ediately the ethical /orce o/ s0ch a doctrine as this o/ s.abhava1 .hen it is
properly 0nderstood# :e beco-e .hat .e are in ger- in o0r in-ost essence; .e also /ollo.
and -a2e a part o/1 li2e.ise1 the type and the co0rse o/ evol0tion o/ the partic0lar planetary
chain to .hich .e belong by a//inity# :e /irst /ollo. along the shado.y arc do.n into -atter1
and .hen .e have reached the lo.est point o/ that arc1 then1through the inner i%ul!e! o"
our nature1 thro0gh sel/'directed evol0tion ? .hich is the very heart o/ this doctrine o/
s.abhava1 one o/ the -ost /0nda-ental doctrines in the esoteric philosophy ? .hen .e have
reached the botto-1 $ repeat1 then the sa-e inner i-p0lse carries 0s !provided that .e have
passed the danger %oint o/ being attracted into the lo.er sphere o/ -atter" 0p the l0-ino0s
arc1 0p and bac2 into the higher spirit0al spheres1 b0t beyond the point o/ depart0re .hence
.e /irst started do.n.ard on o0r cyclical >o0rney into -aterial e3perience /or that
-anvantara#
:e -a2e o0r o.n bodies1 .e -a2e o0r o.n lives1 .e -a2e o0r o.n destinies1 and .e are
responsible /or it all1 spirit0ally1 -orally1 intellect0ally1 psychically1 and even physically# $t is a
-anly doctrine; there is no roo- in it /or -oral co.ardice1 no roo- in it /or casting o0r
responsibility 0pon the sho0lders o/ another ? Bod1 angel1 -an1 or de-on# :e can beco-e
gods1 beca0se .e are gods in the ger- even no.1 in.ardly# :e start 0pon o0r evol0tionary
>o0rney as an 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar21 and .e ret0rn to o0r pri-al so0rce o/ being1
/ollo.ing the great cycle o/ the -aha'-anvantara1 a sel/'conscio0s god#
9et 0s say here that .e have co-e at this point to .hat is a great p0DDle /or -ost o/ o0r
4ccidental orientalists# They cannot 0nderstand the distinctions that the .onder/0l old
philosophers o/ the 4rient -a2e as regards the vario0s classes o/ the devas# They say1 in
s0bstance5 @:hat /0nny contradictions there are in these teachings1 .hich in -any respects
are pro/o0nd and see- so .onder/0l# So-e o/ these devas !or divine beings" are said to
be le!! than -an; so-e o/ these .ritings even say that a good -an is nobler than any god#
,nd yet other parts o/ these teachings declare that there are gods higher even than the
devas1 and yet are called devas# :hat does this -ean;@
The devas or divine beings1 one class o/ the-1 are the 0nsel/'conscio0s spar2s o/ divinity1
cycling do.n into -atter in order to bring o0t /ro- .ithin the-selves and to 0n/old or
evolve !el"'conscio0sness1 the s.abhava o/ divinity .ithin# They begin their reascent al.ays
on the l0-ino0s arc1 .hich never ends1 in a sense; and they are gods1 !el"'conscio0s gods1
hence/orth1 ta2ing a de/inite and divine part in the @great .or21@ as the -ystics have said1 o/
being b0ilders1 evolvers1 leaders1 o/ hierarchies; in other .ords1 they are -onads which ha4e
6ecoe their own innero!t !el4e!8 .hich have passed the Ring'pass'not separating the
spirit0al /ro- the divine# Re-e-ber and re/lect 0pon these old sayings in o0r boo2s ? every
one o/ the- is pregnant .ith -eaning1 /0ll o/ tho0ght#
This1 there/ore1 is the doctrine o/ s.abhava5 the doctrine o/ inner develop-ent1 o/ bringing
o0t that partic0lar essential characteristic or individ0ality .hich is .ithin1 o/ sel/'directed
evol0tion; and yo0 -0st per/orce see the i--ense reach that it has in the -oral .orld1 in the
theological .orld1 in the philosophical .orld1 yea1 even in the scienti/ic .orld as regards the
2notty proble-s o/ evol0tion1 s0ch as the evol0tion o/ species1 inheritance1 develop-ent o/
root types1 and -any -ore#
:e shall one day have to st0dy -ore care/0lly than the -ere s2etch .e have given here
these divine1 very divine1 doctrines1 especially in their bearing on I0estions o/ h0-an
psychology; /or 0pon these doctrines depends the /0rther !and a better" co-prehension o/
the very tenets .hich .e have o0tlined this evening and at /or-er -eetings# :e cannot
0nderstand the 0niverse or the .or2ing and interplay o/ the /orces therein 0ntil .e have
-astered at least to so-e degree1 and /ollo.ed o0t1 the in>0nction o/ the =elphic 4racle1
@7an1 <no. Thysel/K@ , -an .ho 2no.s hi-sel/ tr0ly1 2no.s all1 beca0se he is1
/0nda-entally1 all# Ae is every hierarchy; he is gods and de-ons and .orlds and spheres
and /orces1 and -atter and conscio0sness and spirit ? everything is in hi-# Ae is in one
sense b0ilt o/ the roots o/ everything1 and he is the /r0it o/ everything; he has endless ti-e
behind hi- and endless ti-e be/ore hi-# :hat a gospel o/ hope1 .hat a gospel o/ .onder1 is
this; ho. it raises the h0-an so0l; ho. the in-ost part o/ 0s aspires .hen .e re/lect 0pon
this teachingK &o .onder that it is called the @teaching !or .isdo-" o/ the gods1@ theo!o%hia ?
that is to say1 the teaching .hich the gods the-selves st0dy# Ao. does a -an beco-e
a ahatan or @great sel/@; Thro0gh sel/'directed evol0tion1 thro0gh 6ecoing that which he
i! in hi!el"1 in his inner-ost# This is the doctrine o/ s.abhava#
,nd here .e sho0ld at least all0de to the -ystery o/ individ0ality# Re-e-ber that personality
is the @-as2@ !%er!ona1 as the 9atins said" or re/lection in -atter o/ the individ0ality; b0t being
a -aterial thing it can lead 0s do.n.ard1 altho0gh it is in essence a re/lection o/ the highest#
$t is an old saying that those things are -ost dangero0s .hich have reality or tr0th in the-;
not those things .hich are tr0ly 0nreal or /alse1 beca0se they o/ the-selves /all to pieces and
evanish a.ay in ti-e#
7onads1 psychologically !.e have the /o0r -onads1 the divine1 intellect0al1 psychical1 and
astral1 corresponding to the /o0r basic planes o/ -atter1 b0t all /o0r -onads deriving /ro- the
highest" /ro- the standpoint o/ generaliDation1 are spirit0al ato-s1 b0ddhic ato-s1 being
0niversal principles so /ar as are concerned the planes belo.1 the b0ddhi being perhaps the
-ost -ysterio0s o/ the seven principles o/ -an and1 /ro- o0r present vie.point1 the -ost
i-portant# %0t the h0-an -onad as contrasted .ith the divine -onad above it1 the potentially
i--ortal -an1 co-prises the three principles1 at-an1 b0ddhi1 and the higher -anas# These
three principles are reI0ired in order to -a2e a sel/'conscio0s god# ,t-an and b0ddhi alone
cannot -a2e a !el"'conscio0s god; they are a god'spar21 an 0ndeveloped or 0nevolved god'
spar2# :e have to 0se in this connection h0-an ter-s; .e have not the ter-s in English or in
any other E0ropean lang0age properly to e3press these s0btil tho0ghts#
$n concl0sion1 let 0s re-e-ber that .hile each -an has the 6hrist .ithin hi-sel/1 and can be
@saved@ only by that 6hrist1 he can be saved by that inner 6hrist only .hen
he choo!e! to !a4e hi!el"8 the initiative -0st co-e /ro- belo.1 /ro- hi-sel/# ,nd .hile
so-e people1 thro0gh -is0nderstanding o/ this .onder/0l doctrine o/ s.abhava1 -ay spea2
o/ /atalis-1 .e can do no -ore this evening than to say e-phatically that this doctrine is not
/atalis-# $t is absol0tely the contrary o/ the /atalistic hypothesis1 .hich asserts that there is a
blind or 0n2no.n or conscio0s or 0nconscio0s /orce o0tside o/ -an1 directing hi-1 driving
hi-1 in his choice1 acts1 and evol0tion1 to annihilation or heaven or hell# That is not the
doctrine o/ s.abhava and it is not ta0ght in the esoteric philosophy#
hapter Eleven
The 6os-ic ilgri-age# Fro- Unsel/'6onscio0s Bod'Spar2 to F0lly Sel/'
6onscio0s Bod#
Unveil1 4 Tho0 that givest s0stenance to the Universe1 /ro- .ho- all proceeds1 to .ho-
all -0st ret0rn1 the /ace o/ the Tr0e S0n1 no. hidden by a vase o/ Bolden 9ight1 that .e
-ay see the Tr0th and do o0r .hole d0ty on o0r >o0rney to.ards thy Sacred Seat# ?
araphrase o/ The 'a&atri
4& ,BE C)( o/ the /irst vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine .e /ind the /ollo.ing5
%0t one has to 0nderstand the phraseology o/ 4cc0ltis- be/ore criticising .hat it asserts#
For e3a-ple1 the =octrine re/0ses !as Science does1 in one sense" to 0se the .ords
@above@ and @belo.1@ @higher@ and @lo.er1@ in re/erence to in4i!i6le spheres1 as being
.itho0t -eaning# Even the ter-s @East@ and @:est@ are -erely conventional1 necessary
only to aid o0r h0-an perceptions# For1 tho0gh the Earth has its t.o /i3ed points in the
poles1 &orth and So0th1 yet both East and :est are variable relatively to o0r o.n position
on the Earth8s s0r/ace1 and in conseI0ence o/ its rotation /ro- :est to East# Aence1
.hen >other .orlds@ are -entioned ? .hether better or .orse1 -ore spirit0al or still -ore
-aterial1 tho0gh both invisible ? the 4cc0ltist does not locate the!e
!%here! either out!ide or in!ide o0r Earth1 as the theologians and the poets do; /or their
location is no.here in the space 2nown to1 and conceived by1 the pro/ane# They are1 as it
.ere1 blended .ith o0r .orld ? interpenetrating it and interpenetrated by it# There are
-illions and -illions o/ .orlds and /ir-a-ents visible to 0s; there still greater n0-bers
beyond those visible to the telescopes1 and -any o/ the latter 2ind do not belong to
o0r o6Aecti4e sphere o/ e3istence# ,ltho0gh as invisible as i/ they .ere -illions o/ -iles
beyond o0r solar syste-1 they are yet .ith 0s1 near 0s1 within o0r o.n .orld1 as ob>ective
and -aterial to their respective inhabitants as o0rs is to 0s# %0t1 again1 the relation o/
these .orlds to o0rs is not that o/ a series o/ egg'shaped bo3es enclosed one .ithin the
other1 li2e the toys called 6hinese nests; each is entirely 0nder its o.n special la.s and
conditions1 having no direct relation to o0r sphere# The inhabitants o/ these1 as already
said1 -ay be1 /or all .e 2no.1 or /eel1 passing through and around 0s as i/ thro0gh e-pty
space1 their very habitations and co0ntries being interblended .ith o0rs1 tho0gh not
dist0rbing o0r vision1 beca0se .e have not yet the /ac0lties necessary /or discerning
the-#
TA$S SEE7S to be a very appropriate general te3t /or 0s to choose in closing o0r s2etch o/
the hierarchies1 and -ore partic0larly o0r develop-ent o/ the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 0pon
.hich .e to0ched in o0r last -eeting5 the doctrine o/ the characteristic nat0re1 o/ the
individ0ality1 or type'essentiality1 o/ each individ0al -onad1 gro.ing and -ani/esting and
beco-ing itsel/ in the -ani/ested .orld in .hich it is itsel/ the seed o/ its o.n individ0ality#
The bearing o/ this concept on the doctrine o/ evol0tion ? @rolling o0t or 0n/olding o/ .hat is
.ithin@ ? and especially on the -ooted and 2notty proble- o/ the so'called origin o/ species1
is si-ply i--ense1 /or it is the 2ey thereo/#
:e can 0se the .ord indi4idualit& /or the -eaning o/ s.abhava1 provided that .e do not 0se
it in contradistinction to %er!onalit&+ $t is individ0ality in the sense o/ signi/ying the being and
the 0n/olding o/ that partic0lar I0ality or essential characteristic .hich disting0ishes one
-onad1 one h0-an entity1 one cos-os1 one ato-1 /ro- another o/ the sa-e 2ind#
F0nda-ental as is the doctrine o/ hierarchies1 and ill0-inating as is the light that it thro.s
0pon other proble-s1 it itsel/ cannot be properly 0nderstood .itho0t its co-ple-entary
doctrine o/ s.abhava; and1 vice versa1 .e cannot properly 0nderstand the doctrine o/
s.abhava .itho0t 0nderstanding the doctrine o/ hierarchies#
:e hope this evening to develop the tr0e -eaning o/ s.abhava1 and th0s to /inish this part o/
o0r st0dy1 having no. reached the /rontiers1 as it .ere1 o/ cos-ical -ani/estation; and in
beginning o0r st0dy o/ it in detail1 .e are obliged to to0ch 0pon a very essential aspect o/ the
doctrine1 another aspect o/ it .hich is /0nda-ental /or the proper 0nderstanding o/ this
portion o/ the teaching o/ the ancient .isdo-; it is a portion .hich pertains to psychology#
$ndeed1 this doctrine o/ hierarchies and this its co-ple-entary doctrine o/ s.abhava1 are
both in a very large -eas0re /0nda-entally psychological#
S.abhava is a Sans2rit ter-1 a no0n derived /ro- the root 6hu1 -eaning @to beco-e1@ and
hence @to be1@ a psychological concord .hich is /o0nd also in several other lang0ages1 as in
both Bree2 and English /or instance# $n Bree2 the .ord is gignoai; and in English it is 6e# $n
old ,nglo'Sa3on .e have this .ord .ith the essential /0t0re sense co-pletely retained and
psychologically distinctly /elt1 to .it5 ic 6eo/ thu 6i!t or 6&!t/ he 6ith or 6iath1 etc#1 -eaning @$1
tho01 he .ill be1@ in the /0t0re sense o/ @beco-e#@ $t is obvio0s that the psychological /orce o/
this -eans that6eing is essentially a 6ecoing ? a gro.th or evol0tion or 0n/olding o/ inner
/ac0lty#
English1 as a -atter o/ /act1 had originally and still has only the t.o nat0ral gra--atical
tenses ? the i-per/ect tense1 or the tense o/ i-per/ect or inco-plete action1 co--only called
the present; and the per/ect tense o/ per/ected or co-pleted action1 or the past#
&o. .hat constit0tes one hierarchy as di//erent in essence ? or s.abhava ? /ro- another
hierarchy; $t is its s.abhava1 or the seed o/ individ0ality .hich i! it and is in it# $t is that seed
.hich1 developing1 -a2esa hierarchy1 and that seed in developing /ollo.s the la.s !or rather
nat0re" o/ its o.n essential being1 and this is its s.abhava# $n The Secret Doctrine/ A# #
%lavats2y o/ten spea2s o/ one partic0lar I0ality or plane o/ 0niversal being1 .hich she
calls !wa6ha4at/ the ne0ter present participle o/ the sa-e root 6hu1 and 0sed as a no0n# 9i2e
s.abhava1 it is derived /ro- the sa-e root1 .ith the sa-e pre/i31 and -eans that partic0lar
thing .hich e@i!t! and 6ecoe! o" and in it! own e!!ential e!!ence; call it the @Sel/'E3istent1@
i/ yo0 li2e# $t is1 tho0gh a Sans2rit .ord1 a %0ddhistic ter-1 and its %rah-anical eI0ivalent in
the Fedanta .o0ld probably be the cos-ical side o/ ara-at-an1 s0pre-e sel/1 the
individ0aliDed aspect o/ arabrah-an'70lapra2riti5 s0perspirit'root'-atter#
S.abhavat is the spirit0al essence1 the /0nda-ental root or spirit's0bstance1 the Father'
7other o/ the beginning o/ -ani/estation1 and /ro- it gro. or 6ecoe all things# $t can be
conceived o/ as did SpinoDa1 the &etherlandish Ee.ish philosopher1 as Bod1 as the one
0nderlying being or s0bstance; tho0gh in o0r st0dies .e have esche.ed the 0se o/ the ter-
@Bod1@ /or a reason hereina/ter to be set /orth# 4r it can be conceived o/ as 9eibniD did1 as a
collective 0nity o/ an in/init0de o/ e-anated -onads or @entelechies1@ to 0se ,ristotle8s ter-#
SpinoDa .as an absol0te idealist1 .hile 9eibniD .as an ob>ective idealist1 .hich .e also are1
by the .ay# S.abhava is the characteristic nat0re1 the type'essence1 the individ0ality1 o/
s.abhavat ? o/ any s.abhavat1 each s0ch s.abhavat having its o.n s.abhava#
The -ain and essential -eaning o/ the doctrine o/ s.abhava is the /ollo.ing ? and it is so
/0nda-ental1 so i-portant in order properly to 0nderstand .hat /ollo.s1 that .e are going
e-phatically to 0rge it 0pon the attention o/ everyone# :hen cos-ical -ani/estation begins
or opens1 it does not open helter's2elter1 in disordered con/0sion1 or by chance; it begins in
con/or-ity .ith the characteri!tic !eed! o/ li/e1 called1 co--only1 la.s1 .hich have been in
latent e3istence thro0gh the period o/ the -aha'pralaya preceding the beginning o/ the ne.
-anvantara1 and these la.s ? .e 0se the ter- 0nder strong protest ? are really the intrinsic
and inel0ctable 2aric ha6it! o/ nat0re to be thi! or that/ its s.abhavas1 in short1 its hosts o/
inn0-erable entities or essential nat0res; and these la.s are act0ally i-pressed1 sta-ped1
0pon ethereal and physical -atter by the -onadic essences or the -onads# The s.abhavas
o/ the -onads give their s.abhavic nat0res to nat0reK The -onads are individ0als1 and
conceiving the- as collected together in a 0nity and /or-ing a body o/ a still greater -onad1
9eibniD gave to this greatest -onad the 9atin ter- Mona! onadu ? the @7onad o/
-onads#@ This -onad is1 in short1 o0r hierarchical s0--it1 o/ .hich .e have several ti-es
spo2en be/ore# %0t .here is there any need to call this @7onad o/ -onads1@ this hierarchical
ape3 or s0--it1 Bod; :e can conceive o/ so-ething still higher1 and so /orth al-ost at .ill#
To stop at any point and call it Bod .o0ld si-ply be creating a deity ? a Bod -an'-ade1
tr0lyK
Ao.ever1 a -an -0st pa0se so-e.here in tho0ght# So .e begin .ith s.abhava .hich1
being an abstract ter-1 is not a li-it or bo0ndary in itsel/# $t is p0re individ0ality .or2ing in
spirit'-atter o/ .hich it is the highest part or s0--it# &o. this essential nat0re !or s.abhava"
o/ a -onad develops and 6ecoe! in -atter a hierarchy1 .hether that hierarchy be an ato-1
a -an1 a planet1 a s0n1 a solar syste-1 or a cos-ical 0niverse !or a 0niversal cos-os" s0ch
as .e /ind .ithin the encircling Done o/ the 7il2y :ay# The -onad does so /ollo.ing the
driving essential 0rge o/ its o.n inner essence1 its individ0ality1 its s.abhava# Aence it is that
as the -onads are individ0als1 so are the res0ltant hierarchies individ0aliDed# ,nd
generaliDing1 as the -onad gro.s into or beco-es the hierarchy1 descending the shado.y
arc ? that is1 descending into -atter ? as it 6ecoe! atter in it! lower %art! !the 0pper
portion o/ the -onad re-aining al.ays in its o.n p0re 0nad0lterated state" it reaches a
certain point .hich is the end o/ its cyclical develop-ent /or that period o/ evol0tion or
-anvantara1 and then it begins cycling 0p.ard and bac2 again1 and this part o/ its >o0rney is
called the l0-ino0s arc1 beca0se its tendency is to.ards light1 or spirit1 /ollo.ing the
phraseology o/ the ancient sages#
:e st0died so-e ti-e ago in the Aebre. %ible1 chapter 11 verses 2( and 2C1 ho. the Elohi-
said5 @9et 0s -a2e 8-an8 in o0r o.n shado.y i-age !in o0r o.n shado."1 and in o0r
archetypal pattern#@ These Elohi- .ho so @spo2e@ .ere -onads1 together /or-ing a
hierarchy1 each one o/ the-1 again1 a hierarchy by itsel/# ,s each individ0al -an is a
s0bordinate hierarchy o/ the greater hierarchy o/ h0-anity1 so h0-anity is a s0bordinate
hierarchy o/ the still greater hierarchy o/ the planet1 and the planet Terra a s0bordinate
hierarchy o/ the still greater hierarchy o/ the solar syste-; and so /orth1 as long as yo0 care to
/ollo. the tho0ght# 7an is hi-sel/ co-posed o/ less beings; he hi-sel/ is a -icrocos- or
little 0niverse; he to these less beings is as a god ? he to the- is the Mona! onadu1 the
7onad o/ -onads# :e shall later see reasons o/ great /orce .hy .e have sed0lo0sly
esche.ed 0sing this .ord Bod# $t is a colored .ord1 spoiled .ith the tho0ghts .hich have
been tac2ed on to it; colored by the- all1 and it is /or these reasons a dangero0s .ord to 0se1
beca0se both -isleading and inadeI0ate#
,s this -onad in the beginning o/ -ani/estation in cos-os brea2s thro0gh the laya'center1
that is to say1 thro0gh the ne0tral point1 the vanishing'point .here spirit beco-es -atter1 or
vice versa !yo0 can call it the at-an o/ the si3 lo.er degrees or principles .hich are to /ollo.
in seI0ential evol0tion" ? as the descending -onad brea2s thro0gh the encircling -atter o/
the cos-os aro0nd it1 it /ollo.s in its co0rse its o.n inner 0rge or1 rather1 is driven thereby; it
is !el"1e@%re!!i4e/ b0t still sel/'0nconscio0s# %0t .hen any partic0lar @ato-ic@ part o/ this
cos-ic -onad reaches sel/'conscio0sness and beco-es a -an1 the path that its evol0tion
/ollo.s thence/or.ard is con!ciou!l& !el"1directed# Up to the ti-e o/ the entrance o/ the !el"'
conscio0s -ind into -an1 the evolving entity is 0nder the i-p0lse1 the prop0lsion1 o/ dire and
i-placable necessity .hich1 ho.ever1 is -ost e-phatically not "ate8 and this is beca0se1 0p
to this critical point in evol0tion1 the evolving entity is an i-per/ect being still5 it is not a !el"'
conscio0s thing1 b0t an 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2# $t cannot as yet direct its o.n destiny on
the planes o/ -ani/estation1 b0t a0to-atically /ollo.s the co0rse o/ the hierarchy to .hich it
belongs# This spirit0al'-ental i-potency ceases .hen the sel/'conscio0s state has been
reached1 .hich is in -an# Fro- this -o-ent1 in gro.ing degree1 -an beco-es hi-sel/ a
creator ? a creator1 sel/'conscio0sly1 o/ hi-sel/; he reaches 0p.ard or in.ard or o0t.ard !the
adverb -atters not" and 6ecoe! that which he e!!entiall& i! within/ contin0ally aspiring
to.ard the $n-ost o/ the $n-ost; and he /inally reaches the point1 at the end o/ this =ay o/
%rah-a ? a/ter seven planetary ro0nds ? .here he blosso-s /orth into a sel/'conscio0s god1
not yet @Bod1@ or the s0--it o/ the hierarchy to .hich he belongs by 2ar-ic descent1
b0t a god# &o longer is he a nonsel/'conscio0s -onad1 b0t a sel/'conscio0s -onad1 a
planetary spirit1 a dhyan'chohan1 to 0se a bea0ti/0l %0ddhistic ter-1 a @lord o/ -editation1@
one o/ that .ondro0s host o/ spirit0al beings .ho are the /0ll'blo.n /lo.ers o/ /or-er .orld
periods or -anvantaras# This .ondro0s host are the per/ect -en o/ those /or-er .orld
periods; and they g0ide the evol0tion o/ this planet in its present -anvantara# They are o0r
o.n spirit0al lords1 leaders1 and saviors# They s0pervise 0s no. in o0r evol0tion here1 and
.e /ollo. the path o/ the general evol0tion o0tlined by the- in o0r present cyclic pilgri-age#
:hen .e /irst started on this pilgri-age as 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2s1 destined to beco-e
sel/'conscio0s -en in this o0r -anvantara1 it .as these dhyan'chohans ? /lo.ers o/ the
/or-er -anvantara ? .ho opened the path /or 0s1 .ho g0ided o0r 0ncertain steps as .e
beca-e -en1 incarnations o/ o0r higher selves# %0t .hen .e beca-e sel/'conscio0s entities
or -en1 .e began to g0ide o0rselves; and to .or2 conscio0sly .ith the- according to o0r
evol0tion1 to @.or2 .ith nat0re1@ as A# # %lavats2y nobly e3pressed it1 is o0r highest d0ty and
o0r brightest hope# $t is o0r /0t0re destiny to beco-e s0ch godli2e beings o0rselves1
therea/ter in o0r t0rn to in/or-1 inspire1 and g0ide less evolved entities in /0t0re -anvantaras1
as .e have been in/or-ed1 inspired1 and g0ided by the-; and /inally1 a/ter -any 2alpas1 a/ter
-any =ays o/ %rah-a ? each one o/ s0ch =ays a period o/ seven planetary ro0nds ? .e
shall beco-e a conscio0s part o/ the cos-ical 9ogos1 the %rah-ic 9ogos1 0sing the phrase
%rah-ic 9ogos as -eaning the highest conscio0s entitative intelligence o/ the solar syste-;
thence 0p.ard and 0p.ard /orever#
:e ret0rn to o0r -ain the-e# :hen the -onad has reached the /irst point o/ cos-ic
-ani/estation1 it has already descended thro0gh the /irst three o/ the ten planes or degrees or
steps1 i#e#1 thro0gh the three planes or degrees or steps /or-ing the 0pper triangle or triad o/
the ten planes in and on .hich the 0niverse is b0ilt# $t no. begins de/initely to cycle
do.n.ard1 and its entrance into cos-ic -ani/estation1 as already said1 is the laya'center
.hich is the at-an or 0niversal spirit1 no -ore belonging to any partic0lar entity or -an than
does the at-an o/ any entity or -an in any other planet o/ any other solar syste-# ,t-an is
o0rselves -erely beca0se it is the lin2 .hich connects 0s .ith the higher# ,s a -atter o/ /act1
the h0-an being or -an consists o/ /ive principles1 beca0se the at-an is not his e3cept as a
@plan2 o/ salvation@; and his gross physical body is not really a principle at all# This -atter o/
co-ponent principles in -an .e shall have to go into -ore /0lly .hen .e ta2e 0p o0r st0dy
o/ h0-an psychological co-position#
&o. the 0pper triangle o/ the ten above all0ded to act0ally is e@tended or de4elo%ed out "ro
the onad it!el"/ as the petals and leaves o/ a /lo.er are e3tended or evolved o0t o/ its seed5
it dra.s its li/e and being /ro- .ithin itsel/# $t is the ele-ental .orld1 !%irituall& spea2ing; as
the three .orlds belo. o0r -ineral 2ingdo- are the ele-ental .orlds o/
o0rselves1 ateriall& spea2ing1 /or-ing an ele-ental .orld1 @spirit0ally@ spea2ing1 o/ the
hierarchy belo. o0r o.n#
This inner 0rge driving the -onad to e3press itsel/ in -ani/estation and /or- is the .ill o/
higher beings1 .or2ing thro0gh itsel/1 o/ .hich higher beings it /or-s an integral part ? >0st as
o0r brain1 or o0r body1 /ollo.s the i-placable la. o/ necessity .hich .e i-pose 0pon brain or
body by o0r tho0ghts and o0r .ill1 yet both brain and body are parts o/ o0rsel/ in -atter# The
-onad -0st reach sel/'conscio0sness in order to @/ree@ itsel/ and th0s beco-e a sel/'
conscio0s1 sel/'directed god#
These things are so i-portant /or properly 0nderstanding o0r /0t0re st0dy that .e /eel
necessitated again and again to ret0rn to the-# They are basically /0nda-ental1 lying at the
very root o/ all o0r teaching# Understand clearly and .ell that this is not "atali!+ That
doctrine r0ns directly contrary to the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 the doctrine o/ !el"'e3pression#
,s an egg 0n/olds .ithin itsel/ the ger- .hich is to beco-e the /0t0re chic2; or the h0-an
egg1 the ov0-1 0n/olds the ger- .ithin it .hich is to beco-e the /0t0re child o/ -an1 si-ilarly
does the 0niverse develop1 si-ilarly does an ato- develop1 th0s also does a -onad develop#
$t is 0n/olded .ithin the a0ric egg# The h0-an ov0-1 the seed o/ the plant1 each is nothing
b0t an egg# The shape -ay di//er1 the li/e /or- -ay di//er1 b0t this has nothing to do .ith the
principle o/ 0n/old-ent o/ .hich .e are spea2ing# The encase-ent .ithin the a0ric egg
envelops the ger- o/ individ0ality ? or s.abhava ? .hich is destined to /ollo. its co0rse
along its o.n characteristic line o/ 0n/old-ent5 .hat is in the egg or seed co-es o0t1 each
species according to its o.n 2ind1 and this is its s.abhava# The Bree2 Stoic school ta0ght
the e3istence1 both cos-ically and in/initesi-ally1 o/ !%eratic logoi/ @seed'logoi1@ each s0ch
sper-atic logos prod0cing creat0res a/ter its 2ind and according to its o.n essence ? li2e the
Aebre. %iblical Elohi- ? and this is again s.abhava#
:e sa. in o0r st0dy o/ the Gabbalah ho. the highest .orld 0n/olded itsel/ and "ro
it!el" e-anated or evolved the second .orld1 th0s act0ally6ecoing the second .orld5 being
th0s both parent and child# The second .orld .as th0s the child o/ the /irst; the third .as the
child o/ the /irst andthe second; and the /o0rth1 the @.orld o/ shells@ ? or o/ beings living in
gross bodies1 or @shells@ ? .as the child o/ the /irst1 the second1 and the third1 all .or2ing
together in order to prod0ce this /o0rth# &ote .ell1 ho.ever1 that each s0perior sphere or
.orld reain! intact on it! own %lane/ tho0gh evolving /ro- itsel/ the ne3t s0cceeding in/erior
.orld#
The Stoics had a doctrine o/ develop-ent .hich in its essence is the p0re teaching o/ o0r
o.n philosophy1 tho0gh e3pressed in di//erent /or- and 0nder di//erent na-es# They
e3pressed it in this .ise1 /ollo.ing the -echanical -ode so agreeable and dear to the Bree2
-ind# $t is c0rio0s1 by the .ay1 that the 4riental -ind has al.ays pre/erred to /ollo. the
psychological and spirit0al lines o/ tho0ght1 rather than the -echanical or1 as .e .o0ld no.
say1 the scienti/ic# %0t the Stoics ta0ght in Breece1 and later in Ro-e1 that the -echanis- o/
the essential nat0re o/ the =eity ? and this essential nat0re is o0r s.abhava1 .hat .e .o0ld
call Father'7other ? .as ten!ion1 and !lac2ening o/ this tension1 this slac2ening o/ tension
being the /irst act o/ .orld'b0ilding# They too2 as an analogy in ill0stration o/ the idea the
.ell'2no.n /act that .hen a -etal gro.s hot it then e3pands1 and /inally is vaporiDed; and
0sing this si-ple -atter'o/'/act analogy they said that the @nat0ral@ state o/ %neua !@spirit@ R
the =eity" is /ire ? not physical /ire1 b0t the seed o/ that cos-ic ele-ent /ro- .hich physical
/ire springs# The slac2ening o/ this tension prod0ced the /irst di//erentiation o/ the pri-al
s0bstance !or pne0-a R @Bod@"1 and this di//erentiation then a.o2e to active li/e the li/e'
seeds1 sl0-bering or latent1 .hich ca-e over /ro- the previo0s period o/ -ani/ested li/e; the
li/e'seeds1 or seed'lives ? their sper-atic logoi ? th0s a.a2ing1 proceeded to b0ild and g0ide
the /orthco-ing .orld period and all the entities in it1 each s0ch seed'li/e bringing /orth /ro-
itsel/ its essential species1 or characteristic essence1 i#e#1 s.abhava# This is the teaching in
-iniat0re1 b0t as the Stoics gave it1 o/ the esoteric philosophy#
&o. .hen the 0niverse .as to co-e /orth "ro it! own 6eing/ ta0ght the Stoics1 the tension
o/ the pri-al s0bstance or divine /ire slac2ened1 or contracted as it .ere1 and this contraction1
by condensation1 gave birth to the aether; ne3t1 as the tension slac2ened in the aether1 this
gave birth to air; and it1 ne3t1 to .ater; and it1 /inally1 to earth# :e are not spea2ing o/ the
-aterial /ire1 air1 .ater1 earth1 that .e see aro0nd 0s1 b0t .e re/er to the eleent! or !eed! o/
these1 the earth and the .ater and the air and the /ire that .e see aro0nd 0s being -erely
-aterial sa-ples or the last progeny1 as it .ere1 o/ the ele-ental seeds /ro- .hich these
respectively sprang# @Fire@ gave birth to the @aether1@ the latter being its shado.1 the shado.
o/ itsel/# The @aether@ gave birth to it! shado.1 or @air1@ its encase-ent or body; and the @air@
to @.ater@; and the @.ater@ to @earth#@ The Stoics ta0ght /0rther that all these things can be
respectively trans/or-ed one into the other ? the drea- o/ the alche-ist1 and also the drea-1
psychologically1 o/ initiates .ho ai- and strive to trans/or- the base into the p0re1 the
-aterial into the spirit0al#
Ret0rning once -ore to o0r -ain the-e1 it is to be noted that nat0rally1 as the -onad ? the
root or the individ0ality o/ a hierarchy o/ any 2ind ? cycles do.n into -atter1 it prod0ces /ro-
itsel/1 it e3pands o0t.ardly /ro- itsel/1 its o.n shado.s !or lo.er vehicles" .hich gro.
constantly -ore dense in direct proportion to the greater descent o/ the -onad# $n this
connection the I0estion arises1 that as there are certainly .orlds o/ happiness1 .orlds o/
peace1 in the higher spheres1 ho. abo0t those nether .orlds; ho. abo0t those lo.est states
o/ being o/ .hich A# # %lavats2y spea2s as the a4ichi; There is no hell in the 6hristian
sense# S0ch a hell is a vag0e bogey o/ the i-agination; b0t there are1 in very tr0th1 lo.er
spheres5 >0st as there are higher1 so there -0st be lo.er# There cannot be good .itho0t evil1
/or the one is the shado. o/ the other and balances it in nat0re# These lo.est spheres have a
.ell'de/ined part to play in the great cos-ic dra-a# They are the cleansing ho0ses1 so to
say1 o/ the so0ls o/ those .ho persist in evildoing# 9i2e attracts li2e# These lo.er spheres
arenece!!aril& entered into by those .ho .ill/0lly1 thro0gh a prolonged series o/ incarnations1
re/0se to /ollo. the spirit0al light .ithin the-selves# 9i2e attracts li2e1 .e repeat it# ,s a
-atter o/ /act1 s0ch so0ls1 so stained and .eighted .ith evil1 are act0ally p0rs0ing their o.n
cyclical pilgri-age1 dra.n by attraction to li2e spheres and d.ellings# =0ring the cyclic
pilgri-age o/ the ato-'so0ls do.n into -atter1 -any -illions and -illions have /ailed to pass
the danger point and1 instead o/ there0pon beginning their >o0rney ho-e.ard 0p the
l0-ino0s arc1 are s.ept into the terrible -aelstro- o/ the c0rrent that goes do.n.ard /arther
into -atterK There/ore1 into relatively greater s0//ering# These -0st .ait 0ntil their ti-e co-es
again in the ne3t -anvantara1 and another chance in the /0t0re 2alpa o/ the earth#
For thi! =ay o/ %rah-a1 /or thi! -anvantara o/ seven ro0nds1 all is ended /or the- as
regards their con!ciou! >o0rney bac2 to their divine so0rce#
These are doctrines !s0ch as that o/ the avichi'nirvana1 >0st hinted at in the preceding /e.
sentences" .hich .ere ta0ght in the ancient esoteric schools# Fro- the-1 by
-is0nderstanding and corr0ption o/ the-1 have been derived the bogey doctrines o/ a /iery1
-aterial hell in .hich are1 /or eternity1 to b0rn the ethereal so0ls o/ .ill/0l sinnersK These
so0ls are said to be o/ an asbestos'li2e nat0re1 /orever b0rning /iercely yet never cons0-ed1
li2e pitch b0rning /or 0tter eternity in 0tterly endless /ireK :hat /right/0l night-ares o/ a gross
and -aterialistic @religio0s@ teachingK $t is a-aDing ho. the -ind o/ -an .ill invent things to
tort0re itsel/ .ith# %0t it also sho.s that bac2 o/ all these /ear/0l1 night-are doctrines and
dog-as there is so-e /0nda-ental /act .hich the 0nta0ght -ind sees thro0gh thic2 clo0ds
dar2ly and /alsely1 and distorts; so-e ele-ent o/ tr0th .hich needs only proper e3planation
/or 0nderstanding#
,nd ho. the h0-an heart -0st -elt in pityK =o .e realiDe ho. real these doctrines .ere to
o0r ancestors o/ only a /e. score years ago; ,nd that in so-e bac2.ard'loo2ing ch0rches
today these sa-e horrible doctrines are still ta0ght as act0alities1 tho0gh -ore or less
secretly as i/ in 0tter sha-e1 and that there are -isg0ided and 0nhappy -en .ho believe
the-1 and on their deathbeds s0//er in anticipation the tort0res o/ the da-ned1 tort0res
.orse1 certainly1 than any .hich nat0re has prepared /or the- as g0erdon /or their -ista2es
and sins; Thin2 o/ the horror o/ itK Thin2 o/ the d0ty that .e o.e to o0r /ello. -en to teach
the- the proper e3planation and -eaning o/ these distorted and tort0red doctrines in all their
sanity1 in all their bea0ti/0l hopeK There is a -oral ele-ent involved in it /or 0s# eople
so-eti-es as2 .hat is the 0se o/ st0dying The Secret Doctrine; :hat is the 0se o/ spending
so -0ch ti-e in st0dying the ro0nds and races; Aere is one o/ the 0ses# Essentially yo0
cannot change -en 0ntil yo0 have changed their -inds# Teach en %ro%erl& and no6l& to
thin21and &ou teach the %ro%erl& and no6l& to li4e/ and %ro%erl& and no6l& to die+ There is
nothing li2e a noble tho0ght to li/t a -an# $t is sheer /olly and egois- that says1 @:hat is the
0se o/ these so'called noble tho0ghts; 7y tho0ghts are good eno0gh /or -e#@
,/ter all that has previo0sly been said1 nevertheless1 .e have >0st beg0n o0r e3position o/
s.abhava# :e shall not have this evening the ti-e and opport0nity to to0ch 0pon the very
i-portant psychological aspects o/ it .hich .e had hoped to do# :e have still a /e. -o-ents
o/ ti-e1 ho.ever# 9et 0s then try to ill0strate -ore clearly this doctrine o/ s.abhava on the
line o/ it chosen be/ore# $-agine an individ0al -onad sending its ray1 or descending1 thro0gh
that sphere .hich beco-es the spirit0al'ato-icU plane o/ the si3 planes belo. it# This ray
/or-s it itsel/ into respective principles and planes as ti-e passes1 and it gathers and gleans
the e3periences o/ each separate plane# 9eaving that spirit0al'ato-icU or at-anic plane1 it
evolves o0t o/ itsel/ its shado.1 .hich is li2e an encase-ent1 an a0ra1 th0s /or-ing its a0ric
egg there1 and this second plane or principle .e call o0r b0ddhi1 and as the -onadic li/e or
ray passes still /arther do.n into that shado.y li/e1 this b0ddhic plane and principle beco-e
to it the real and the tr0e# ,s cycles o/ ti-e pass on1 the descending -onadic ray !or seed"
evolves another shado.1 another encase-ent1 another s0btil body1 another a0ra1 another
a0ric egg1 out o" it!el"/ and this is o0r -anas# Each o/ these three principles ? as indeed have
all the seven ? has seven degrees1 seven stages1 /ro- the @ato-ic@U o/ any one o/ the three
do.n to its lo.est1 .hich is its corp0s or body# ,nd so on .ith the re-aining /o0r lo.er
planes and principles o/ -an# Each one o/ these principles is @/0lly@ developed on o0r globe
in the respective and si-ilar one o/ the ro0nds o/ the seven o/ the =ay o/ %rah-a# F0rther1
on each one o/ the seven globes o/ the planetary chain1 one o/ the seven principles
especially is developed# ,gain1 as >0st sho.n1 at the end o/ each ro0nd1 one plane and one
principle o/ the seven is developed1 preparatory to evolving the s0cceeding one in another
ro0nd# $t ta2es /0lly t.o ro0nds1 /or instance1 to bring o0t t.o planes and t.o principles in /0ll;
b0t d0ring the /irst and the second ro0nds1 /or e3a-ple1 the other planes and principles have
been co-ing 0p by degrees1 evolving little by little1 developing step by step# The chic2 does
not gro. in a day; the child does not beco-e a -an in a .ee2; his so0l does not develop
.ithin hi- in a /ortnight# $/ a -an lived the li/e he sho0ld1 he .o0ld be at his best and noblest
at the ti-e .hen he thin2s it is ti-e /or hi- to dra. 0p his legs in bed and die# The physical
body -ay be then ready to die1 b0t the -an .ithin1 that .hich is the real being1 sho0ld be
gro.ing greater and nobler and grander# $t is /or this that .e really live#
LUat-ic; ? Ed#M
,nd so r0ns the co0rse o/ evol0tion to the end o/ the seven ro0nds1 each ro0nd bringing o0t
one principle and one plane1 as said; in each ro0nd1 each one o/ the re-aining principles is
bro0ght o0t or evolved in less degree1 there being th0s1 to 0se EDe2iel8s /ig0re1 @.heels .ithin
.heels#@ ,t the -idpoint o/ the /o0rth ro0nd1 .hich is the -iddle ro0nd1 there co-es a ti-e
.hen the -onadic ray reaches the very ac-e o/ -ateriality ? .hen the li/e'.ave reaches a
point .here it branches both do.n.ard and 0p.ard1 and then1 in the .ords o/ EDe2iel1
chapter 1+1 @the so0l that sinneth1 it shall die1@ -eaning that the -onadic ray co0rses
do.n.ard and loses all chance /or ascent bac2 ho-e.ard along the l0-ino0s arc1 /orthat
an4antara# $t /ollo.s the do.n.ard path# %0t those others that can and do /ollo. on1 they
indeed pass the danger point#
, =ay o/ %rah-a is co-posed o/ seven ro0nds1 a period o/ *132) -illion solar or rather
terrestrial years# Seven o/ these =ays1 again1 are reI0ired to -a2e a solar -anvantara1
.hich is a ter- 0sed in the esoteric philosophy in a pec0liar sense1 beca0se seven ti-es
seven ro0nds are needed in order to bring o0t to their /0llest each o/ the seven principles and
seven planes o/ .hich the -ani/esting hierarchy is co-posed# 4/ the 9i/e o/ %rah-a1 .e are
told one hal/ is already passed1 one hal/ o/ 3111)*)1)))1)))1)))1 pl0s so-e /e. -ore billions
o/ o0r yearsK $ re/er to the Sur&a1Siddhanta/ an ancient Sans2rit cos-ogonical and
astrono-ical .or2 .hich1 /ro- the state-ents and /acts given .ithin it1 clai-s an age o/
so-e.hat -ore than t.o -illion years1 according to pop0lar interpretation# $ thin2 o0r
-odern orientalists give its origin as occ0rring -ore or less aro0nd the beginning o/ the
6hristian era or later1 si-ply on the one gro0nd that the Bree2s bro0ght to north.estern $ndia
certain /or-s o/ co-p0tation .hich are /o0nd in the Sur&a1Siddhanta/ a theory .hich is
p0rely arbitrary1 and based 0pon no certainly ascertained /act e3cept the sel/'evolved or
@s.abhavic@ theories o/ the orientalists the-selvesK
Chapter 12
sychology5 ,ccording to the Esoteric hilosophy# $--ortality $s 6onditional5
the 9oss o/ the So0l#
Stoop not do.n1 /or a precipice lies belo. the earth1 O =ra.ing 0nder a descent o/ seven
steps1 beneath .hich O $s the throne o/ dire necessity# ? sell0s1 C !6ory1 )ncient
Fragent!1 p# 27+"
=evilish !a!ur&a" are those .orlds called1 O :ith blind dar2ness !taa!" covered o8erK O
Unto the-1 on deceasing1 go O :hatever /ol2 are slayers o/ the Sel/# ? 0!a13%ani!had/ 3
!A0-e1 trans#"
$& 4E&$&B o0r st0dy o/ the holy science .hich .e are privileged here again tonight to
investigate1 let 0s begin by reading /ro- A# # %lavats2y8sSecret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 the last
paragraph on page 2725
!1" The Secret =octrine is the acc0-0lated :isdo- o/ the ,ges # # #
&e3t page1 second paragraph5
!2" The /0nda-ental 9a. in that syste-1 the central point /ro- .hich all e-erged1 aro0nd
and to.ard .hich all gravitates1 and 0pon .hich is h0ng the philosophy o/ the rest1 is the
4ne ho-ogeneo0s divine SU%ST,&6E'R$&6$9E1 the one radical ca0se#
9ast paragraph5
!3" The Universe is the periodical -ani/estation o/ this 0n2no.n ,bsol0te Essence#
&e3t page1 second paragraph5
!*" The Universe is called1 .ith everything in it1 7,N,1 beca0se all is te-porary therein1
/ro- the ephe-eral li/e o/ a /ire'/ly to that o/ the S0n#
9ast paragraph5
!C" The Universe is .or2ed and guided /ro- within outward!# ,s above so it is belo.1 as
in heaven so on earth; and -an ? the -icrocos- and -iniat0re copy o/ the -acrocos- ?
is the living .itness to this Universal 9a. and to the -ode o/ its action# :e see that
every e@ternal -otion1 act1 gest0re1 .hether vol0ntary or -echanical1 organic or -ental1
is prod0ced and preceded byinternal /eeling or e-otion1 .ill or volition1 and tho0ght or
-ind# ,s no o0t.ard -otion or change1 .hen nor-al1 in -an8s e3ternal body can ta2e
place 0nless provo2ed by an in.ard i-p0lse1 given thro0gh one o/ the three /0nctions
na-ed1 so .ith the e3ternal or -ani/ested Universe# The .hole <os-os is g0ided1
controlled1 and ani-ated by al-ost endless series o/ Aierarchies o/ sentient %eings1 each
having a -ission to per/or-1 and .ho ? .hether .e give to the- one na-e or another1
and call the- =hyan'6hohans or ,ngels ? are @-essengers@ in the sense only that they
are the agents o/ <ar-ic and 6os-ic 9a.s# They vary in/initely in their respective
degrees o/ conscio0sness and intelligence; and to call the- all p0re Spirits .itho0t any o/
the earthly alloy @.hich ti-e is .ont to prey 0pon@ is only to ind0lge in poetical /ancy# For
each o/ these %eings either wa!/ or prepares to beco-e1 a -an1 i/ not in the present1 then
in a past or a co-ing cycle !7anvantara"# They are%er"ected/ .hen not inci%ient1 -en;
and di//er -orally /ro- the terrestrial h0-an beings on their higher !less -aterial"
spheres1 only in that they are devoid o/ the /eeling o/ personality and o/
thehuan e-otional nat0re ? t.o p0rely earthly characteristics#
,nd on pages 21 and 221 beginning in the -iddle o/ the sentence5
# # # the di//erentiation o/ the @Ber-@ o/ the Universe into the septenary hierarchy o/
conscio0s =ivine o.ers1 .ho are the active -ani/estations o/ the 4ne S0pre-e Energy#
They are the /ra-ers1 shapers1 and 0lti-ately the creators o/ all the -ani/ested Universe1
in the only sense in .hich the na-e @6reator@ is intelligible; they in/or- and g0ide it; they
are the intelligent %eings .ho ad>0st and control evol0tion1 e-bodying in the-selves
those -ani/estations o/ the 4&E 9,:1 .hich .e 2no. as @The 9a.s o/ &at0re#@
Res0-ing o0r tho0ght /ro- o0r last st0dy o/ t.o .ee2s ago1 .e shall ta2e 0p this evening an
o0tline o/ the psychological nat0re o/ -an1 beca0se i/ -an 0nderstands hi!el"1 he
0nderstands that "ro which he cae1 andwhich he i! ? he 0nderstands the 0niverse
proportionately .ith his o.n develop-ent o/ spirit and o/ -ind and o/ the percipient /ac0lties
that go .ith the develop-ent o/ spirit and o/ -ind in -an# $n order to enable 0s -ore easily to
0nderstand and -ore clearly to set /orth the essential characteristics o/ -an8s psychological
econo-y1 .e shall endeavor to sho. ho. closely these are related to t.o /0nda-ental
theore-s1 or principles1 or doctrines1 o/ the .isdo-'religion; and these t.o are !1" the la. or
rather the "act o/ hierarchies; and !2" the la. !.e 0se the ter- again 0nder strong protest" o/
the essential nat0re o/ things called s.abhava1 -eaning1 as said be/ore1 !el"'evol0tion1 !el"'
/or-ation1 !el"'develop-ent1 !el"16ecoing+ $n it inheres the /o0ndation o/ the la. o/ -orals#
,s is obvio0s1 -an is responsible to hi-sel/ and1 beca0se -an is a part o/ other things1 he is
there/ore responsible to other things also# 9i2e.ise1 as a corollary o/ the /oregoing1 a/ter
death -an does not @-eet his 6reator1@ b0t verily he has to -eet and to rec2on .ith
his creature/that .hich he has b0ilt 0p in hi-sel/ d0ring his li/e ? his astral sel/#
:hat -a2es a rose bring /orth a rose al.ays; :hy does the seed o/ an apple invariably
bring /orth apples; :hy does it not bring /orth thistles1 or daisies1 or pansies; The ans.er is
very si-ple; very pro/o0nd1 ho.ever# $t is beca0se o/ the s.abhava1 the essential nat0re in
and o/ the seed# $ts s.abhava can bring /orth only that .hich itsel/ is1 its essential
characteristic1 its o.n inner nat0re# The Stoics o/ Breece and Ro-e e3pressed this /act o/
evol0tion by saying that in the opening o/ a period o/ -ani/estation1 it is the %neua ? @spirit@
? .hich rela3es its tension1 condensation or concretion there0pon ens0ing o/ the said
pne0-a or spirit1 and evol0tion begins1 e-anation and evol0tion both begin1 /ollo.ing the
ca0ses set 0p and active in the preceding period o/ -ani/estation# There spring into li/e
coordinately .ith the opening o/ the ne. period the sper-atic logoi1 the seed'logoi1 an
e3pression translated /ro- the Bree2 !%erati2oi logoi/ @sper-atic reasons1@ @seed'
reasons1@ logo! -eaning @reason1@ hence @ca0se1@ a-ong other things# $t .as these seed'
logoi .hich .ere the /r0its or res0lts1 the 2ar-as1 o/ /or-er periods o/ activity# Aaving
attained a certain stage o/ evol0tion or develop-ent1 or I0ality1 or characteristic1 or
individ0ality in the preceding -anvantara1 .hen the ne3t period o/ evol0tion ca-e1 they co0ld
prod0ce nothing else b0t that which the& were the!el4e!/ their own inner nature!1 as seeds
do# The seed can prod0ce nothing b0t .hat it itsel/ is1 .hat is in it; and this is the heart and
essence o/ the doctrine o/ s.abhava# The philosophical1 scienti/ic1 and religio0s reach o/ this
doctrine is si-ply i--ense; it is o/ the /irst i-portance#
The habit or1 i/ yo0 li2e the .ord1 the @la.@ o/ s.abhava can .or2 only in that .hich is itsel/1
beca0se only its o.n vehicle1 its o.n sel/1 is appropriate /or the -ani/estation o/ itsel/ ?
obvio0slyK Aence1 the -anner o/ evol0tion and e-anation1 and the progress o/ the
hierarchies1 are as set /orth be/ore; that is1 that /ro- the highest1 evol0tion and e-anation
proceed do.n.ard into the -ore -aterial1 and so on do.n the line o/ the shado.y arc into
-atter1 0ntil the t0rning point o/ the descent is attained1 .here0pon begins the ascent along
the l0-ino0s arc#
:e -0st note .ell1 ho.ever1 that the higher does not leave its o.n sphere in this process;
the higher does not .holly beco-e the lo.er1 and the lo.er .holly beco-e the still lo.er1
leaving a vac00- or an e-ptiness above# The higher spheres re-ain al.ays# $t is li2e the
/la-e o/ a candle laid at the .ic2 o/ another candle; and /ro- that one candle yo0 can light all
the candles o/ the 0niverse1 .itho0t di-in0tion o/ its energy or o/ its /orce or o/ its
characteristic essence# The highest re-ains al.ays the highest; it is that part o/ itsel/1 as it
.ere1 that is the developing energy acting /ro- .ithin; its s2andhas it is .hich prod0ce1 as
the Stoics .o0ld have said1 this @rela3ation o/ tension1@ this condensation or concretion o/
parts o/ itsel/# , per/ect analogy is /o0nd in the intra0terine develop-ent o/ -an and his
descent into incarnation# Ais spirit0al nat0re does not co-e do.n and beco-e his act0al
body; it re-ains al.ays his spirit0al nat0re# %0t /ro- it1 it thro.s o0t parts o/ itsel/1 its lo.er
aspects or principles ? i/ .e -ay so p0t the idea ? and each one o/ these1 as the -anvantaric
cycle proceeds1 in its t0rn secretes1 protr0des1 and e3cretes so-ething lo.er# So that the
physical -an1 the body1 is in very tr0th the @te-ple o/ the living Bod1@ .hich is itsel/ the glory
thereo/1 hence a part o/ the te-ple; the te-ple1 verily1 is the lo.est -ani/estation o/ the living
Bod .ithin#
&o. s.abhava .or2s thro0gh the hierarchies# :e have ret0rned to these t.o capital -atters
ti-e a/ter ti-e1 beca0se it is all'i-portant /ro- the philosophic1 /ro- the spirit0al1 and /ro-
the ethical aspects that these things sho0ld be as clear as possible in o0r -inds# Ta2e1 /or
instance1 the cos-ogonical relation# :e are not created by an e3tracos-ic Bod; 2ar-a1 on
the other hand1 is not an e3tracos-ic entity .hich said1 @$ create1@ and the .orld sprang into
being# The highest essence1 the in-ost o/ the essence o/ every hierarchy1 o/ the practical
in/init0des o/ hierarchies1 interloc2ed and co'related and .or2ing together and /or-ing the
0niversal cos-os in .hich .e live ? the highest part o/ each one o/ these hierarchies is a
s0perdivine -onad1 .hich .e can call arabrah-an'70lapra2riti# ,nd its /irst -ani/estation
or do.n.ard'loo2ing energy1 its /irst brea2ing'/orth into the plane belo.1 is %rah-an acting in
t0rn thro0gh its cos-ic veil1 radhana1 as yo0 .ill re-e-ber .e have be/ore st0died; and
then co-es %rah-a'ra2riti1 other.ise called 0r0sha'ra2riti1 .hich is the cos-ic so0l or
individ0al1 and the nat0re or the vehicle in .hich it -ani/ests; the 9ogos and its 0niverse; the
-onad and its sheaths1 and so on#
Aaving these things clearly in -ind1 .e can no. ta2e 0p directly and -ore easily1 -ore
co-prehensibly1 the st0dy o/ .hat .e -ean by the psychology o/ -an# The .ord is ordinarily
0sed to signi/y in o0r days and in the seats o/ learning in the 4ccident a st0dy -ore or less
clo0dy1 -ostly beclo0ded .ith do0bts and hypotheses1 act0al g0ess.or21 -eaning little -ore
than a 2ind o/ -ental physiology1 practically nothing -ore than the .or2ing o/ the brain'-ind
in the lo.est astral'psychical apparat0s o/ the h0-an -ind# %0t in o0r philosophy the .ord
psychology is 0sed to -ean so-ething very di//erent1 and o/ a nobler character5 .e -ight call
it pne0-atology1 or the science or the st0dy o/ spirit1 beca0se all the inner /ac0lties and
po.ers o/ -an 0lti-ately spring /ro- his spirit# %0t as this .ord pne0-atology is an 0n0s0al
one and -ight ca0se con/0sion1 let 0s retain the .ord psychology# :e -ean by it the st0dy
o/ the inner econo-y o/ -an1 the interconnection o/ his principles1 so to spea21 or centers o/
energy or /orce ? .hat the -an really is in.ardly#
7an1 li2e everything else in the 0niverse1 is /o0nded 0pon the decadic s2eleton or n0-erical
/ra-e.or2 o/ being ? the n0-ber ten# Three o/ these ten ele-ents or planes or principles
belong to the ar0pa or /or-less .orld1 and seven belong to the .orld o/ -ani/estation and
/or-# These seven latter principles prod0ce each other on a do.n.ard scale in the process
o/ -ani/estation1 e3actly as the hierarchies do1 each one e-anating or evolving a lo.er1 and
this lo.er evolving or e-anating a still lo.er one1 and so do.n to the seventh or lo.est#
7an can be considered as a being co-posed o/ three essential bases; the Sans2rit ter-
is u%adhi# The -eaning o/ the .ord is that .hich @stands /orth@ /ollo.ing a -odel or pattern1
as a canvas1 so to say1 0pon .hich the light /ro- a pro>ecting lantern plays# $t is a play o/
shado. and /or-1 co-pared .ith the 0lti-ate reality# These three bases or 0padhis are1 /irst1
the -onadic or spirit0al; second1 that .hich is s0pplied by the lords o/ light1 the so'called
-anasa'dhyanis1 -eaning the intellect0al and int0itive side o/ -an1 the ele-ent'principle that
-a2es -an -an; and the third basis or 0padhi .e can call the vital'astral'physical1 i/ yo0
please#
These three bases spring /ro- three di//erent lines o/ evol0tion1 /ro- three di//erent and
separate hierarchies o/ being# Re-e-ber that each hierarchy possesses in itsel/ in e-bryo
everything that the entire 0niverse is and has1 the least as the greatest1 i/ .e can say @least@
and @greatest@ o/ that .hich is endless ? at any rate the least and greatest o/ any period o/
-ani/estation# This is the reason .hy -an is co-posite# Ae is not one sole and 0n-i3ed
entity; he is a co-posite entity1 he is a thing b0ilt 0p o/ vario0s ele-ents1 and hence his
principles are1 to a certain e3tent1 separable# ,ny one o/ these three bases can be
te-porarily separated /ro- the t.o others1 .itho0t bringing abo0t the death o/ the -an
physically# %0t the ele-ents1 so to say1 that go to /or- any one o/ these bases cannot be
separated .itho0t bringing abo0t physical dissol0tion or inner dissol0tion#
&o. these three lines o/ evol0tion1 these three aspects or I0alities o/ -an1 as said1 co-e
/ro- three di//erent hierarchies1 or states1 o/ten spo2en o/ as three di//erent planes o/ being#
The lo.est co-es /ro- the earth1 0lti-ately /ro- the -oon1 o0r cos-ogonic -other; the
-iddle1 the -anasic or intellect0al'int0itional1 /ro- the s0n; the -onadic /ro- the 7onad o/
-onads1 the s0pre-e /lo.er1 or ac-e1 or rather the s0pre-e seed o/ the 0niversal hierarchy
.hich /or-s o0r cos-ical 0niverse or 0niversal cos-os#
$t depends 0pon a correct 0nderstanding o/ the general interconnection or the inter.or2ing o/
these three separate parts o/ the econo-y o/ the inner -an1 .hether .e shall obtain a proper
grasp o/ o0r /0t0re st0dies# :e -eet1 as .e have seen1 at every step ne. ideas1 ne.
tho0ghts1 ne. lin2s .ith the 0niverse o/ light and being aro0nd 0s1 and o/ .hich .e also are
children# Ao. terrible it .o0ld be i/ .e .ere to reach the li-it o/ all that it .as possible to
2no.K 4n the contrary1 endless vistas o/ gro.ing 2no.ledge are al.ays be/ore 0s1 and .e
cannot attain the- other.ise than by -o0nting the steps o/ 2no.ledge one by one#
:e have heard it said that i--ortality is conditional# This is a certain tr0th# $--ortality is not
0nconditional1 and .hy; For the reasons >0st pointed o0t# 7an is a co-posite being and1 as
the %0ddha said in the closing .ords o/ his li/e1 @%rothers1 all that is1 is co-posite and
transitory# There/ore .or2 o0t yo0r o.n salvation#@ This contains the core o/ the .hole
philosophy o/ evol0tion1 and occ0ltly designates 0lti-ate i--ortality or annihilation /or any
one -anvantara /or -an as a thin2ing entity#
$--ortality is ass0red i/ the central principles .hich co-pose the intellect0al'int0itional -an
have s0cceeded in rising to the -onadic plane .here they beco-e one .ith the -onad1
shining 0pon the- as a spirit0al s0n# ,nd the loss o/ a so0l /or the -anvantara is ass0red i/
its s.abhava1 its essential1 characteristic energies are directed do.n.ards into br0te -atter#
Ao.ever1 the loss o/ the so0l cannot ens0e as long as even one sole1 single1 spirit0al
aspiration re-ains /0nctionally active# 4nly .hen the 0nhappy entity has arrived at the point
.here it can say1 @Evil1 be tho0 -y BodK@ .hen not one single1 I0ivering aspiration spirit.ard
re-ains1 is it @lost@ /or the -anvantara1 .hen its essence1 as it .ere1 is inverted1 and its
tendency is do.n.ards1 do.n.ards into the avichi1 .here circ0-stances -ay bring abo0t an
al-ost i--ediate annihilation o/ it or1 perhaps1 a -anvantara o/ avichi'nirvana1 a /ear/0l state
indeed contrasted .ith the .ondro0s nirvana o/ the dhyan'chohans or lords o/ -editation#
4n the one hand .e -ay raise o0rselves to beco-e a god1 yea1 even .hile d.elling in the
/lesh# 4n the other hand .e -ay allo. o0rselves to sin2 to the Eighth Sphere1 .here .e
pass into the ya.ning portals o/ the lanet o/ =eath# Aas it ever occ0rred to any one o/ 0s to
as25 :hy are .e here; :hy1 having had an in/inity in .hich to evolve1 are .e not higher than
.e are no.; Aas it ever occ0rred to any one o/ 0s to as2 .hether .e -ay not be the @/allen
angels1@ those very spirit0al @athletes@ .ho in a /or-er great -anvantara /ailed to .in
on.ards to the goal1 /ailed to rise1 /ailed to -a2e the goal intended /or the-1 and .ere @cast
do.n@ to .or2 o0r .eary .ay 0p.ard again;
,gain1 .hat do .e -ean by so0l as contrasted .ith spirit; :e spea2 o/ the huan so0l and
the !%iritual so0l1 and .e spea2 o/ the a!tral so0l1 and .e spea2 o/ the anial so0l# %0t .e
do not 0se those ter-s in connection .ith the .ord spirit# =oes it not teach 0s that the
-eaning o/!oul is that o/ a 4ehicle/ an 0padhi1 in general; that vehicle1 or any vehicle1 in
.hich the -onad1 in any sphere o/ -ani/estation1 is .or2ing o0t its destiny; %0t these
vehicles are con!ciou! vehicles1 they are living and sentient vehicles having each one its o.n
conscio0sness and its o.n thin2ing /ac0lty; even these gross physical bodies o/ o0rs are not
-erely insensible stoc2s# The physical body has its aven0es o/ d0ll conscio0sness and li/e; it
can /eel and1 a/ter its o.n poor d0ll -anner1 it can thin2#
So1 then1 the loss o/ the so0l is the loss o/ that .hich .e1 thro0gh inter-inable ages1 very1
very laborio0sly have b0ilt 0p as o0r inner te-ple1 o0r ho-e1 in .hich .e sho0ld rise to -eet
the gods1 to beco-e one .ith the-; and -ore1 it is the vehicle thro0gh .hich .e sho0ld carry
0p .ith 0s entities belo. 0s at present1 b0t thro0gh 0s approaching o0r o.n dignity o/
h0-anity ? entities o/ .hich the so0l is act0ally co-posed1 even as the ato-s in o0r physical
bodies are in/ant'so0ls1 physical entities1 e-bryonic things .hich .e are in/or-ing and
inspiring1 i/1 indeed1 .e are not sentencing the- to a cycle o/ .oe#
:ith 2no.ledge co-es responsibility# The -oral la. .ill not be th.arted# $t cannot be played
.ith# ,t every step1 .ith every -orn1 at every t0rn1 at every choice1 .e /ace the right' or the
le/t'hand path1 and .e are /orced to choose# :e -0st see to it1 every ti-e1 .hether o0r /eet
are to be set 0pon the l0-ino0s arc1 or 0pon the path o/ shado.s leading 0s do.n.ards#
Chapter Thirteen
The rocess o/ Evol0tion# Sel/1 Ego1 and So0l5 @$ ,-@ and @$ ,- $#@
&othing in nat0re springs into e3istence s0ddenly all being s0b>ected to the sa-e la. o/
grad0al evol0tion# RealiDe b0t once the process o/ the aha cycle1 o/ one sphere1 and
yo0 have realiDed the- all# 4ne -an is born li2e another -an1 one race evolves1
develops1 and declines li2e another and all other races# &at0re /ollo.s the sa-e groove
/ro- the @creation@ o/ a 0niverse do.n to that o/ a -os2ito# $n st0dying esoteric
cos-ogony1 2eep a spirit0al eye 0pon the physiological process o/ h0-an birth; proceed
/ro- ca0se to e//ect establishing # # # analogies bet.een the # # # -an and that o/ a
.orld# # # # 6os-ology is the physiology o/ the 0niverse spirit0aliDed1 /or there is b0t one
la.# ? The Mahata <etter! to )+ $+ Sinnett1 pp# 7)'71
:E 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- page 17+1 and a s-all portion /ro- page
1791 o/ the /irst vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine/ as /ollo.s5
&o. the 7onadic1 or rather 6os-ic1 Essence !i/ s0ch a ter- be per-itted" in the -ineral1
vegetable1 and ani-al1 tho0gh the sa-e thro0gho0t the series o/ cycles /ro- the lo.est
ele-ental 0p to the =eva <ingdo-1 yet di//ers in the scale o/ progression# $t .o0ld be very
-isleading to i-agine a 7onad as a separate Entity trailing its slo. .ay in a distinct path
thro0gh the lo.er <ingdo-s1 and a/ter an incalc0lable series o/ trans/or-ations /lo.ering
into a h0-an being; in short1 that the 7onad o/ a A0-boldt dates bac2 to the 7onad o/ an
ato- o/ horneblende# $nstead o/ saying a @7ineral 7onad1@ the -ore correct phraseology
in physical Science1 .hich di//erentiates every ato-1 .o0ld o/ co0rse have been to call it
@the 7onad -ani/esting in that /or- o/ ra2riti called the 7ineral <ingdo-#@# # # ,s the
7onads are 0nco-po0nded things1 as correctly de/ined by 9eibnitD1 it is the spirit0al
essence .hich vivi/ies the- in their degrees o/ di//erentiation1 .hich properly constit0tes
the 7onad ? not the ato-ic aggregation1 .hich is only the vehicle and the s0bstance
thro0gh .hich thrill the lo.er and the higher degrees o/ intelligence#
$t .ill perhaps be .ell to pre/ace o0r re-ar2s by re-inding o0rselves o/ the t.o general
desires .hich <atherine Tingley had in -ind in ina0g0rating o0r st0dies5 /irst1 the el0cidation
o/ the teachings contained in A# # %lavats2y8s .onder/0l .or2; and secondly1 the providing o/
tests1 doctrinal tests1 as it .ere1 not tests in a dog-atic sense1 b0t doctrinal or -ental tests
.hich each one o/ 0s -ay have in -ind to re-e-ber and to apply .hen he ta2es 0p so-e
boo2 treating o/ the ancient religions o/ the .orld1 or o/ the -odern theories concerning those
religions as given o0t by so-e -odern thin2er#
The .orld at the present day is si-ply over.hel-ed .ith boo2s o/ vario0s sorts treating o/
I0asi'spirit0al1 and o/ so'called psychic and I0asi'psychic -atters1 and to one .ho does not
2no. the 2ey doctrines o/ theosophy1 .ho has not1 as A# # %lavats2y had1 at his -ental
elbo.1 so to say1 the teachings o/ the ancient .isdo-'religion by .hich all these vario0s
-atters -ay be tested and proved1 there is place /or -0ch -ental con/0sion1 indecision1 and
do0bt as to .hat the real sense or -eaning thereo/ -ay be1 beca0se -any o/ these boo2s
are .ritten very ably# %0t ability in .riting .ell is no sign or proo/ that an a0thor 0nderstands
properly the ancient tho0ght; s0ch ability is -erely the capacity o/ presenting certain tho0ghts
? the .riter8s o.n vie.s ? clearly and o/ten very praise.orthily; b0t -erely praise.orthy
.riting is certainly no proo/ that a .riter possesses an adeI0ate and s0//icient criterion o/ the
ancient tr0th itsel/#
Aaving there/ore these doctrines o/ the ancient .isdo-'religion !theosophy" in -ind1 and
properly 0nderstanding the-1 .e have tests by .hich .e -ay prove to o0rselves .hether
s0ch and s0ch a doctrine o/ any religion1 ancient or -odern1 or s0ch and s0ch a teaching o/
any thin2er1 ancient or -odern1 is in accord .ith that pri-eval spirit0al and nat0ral revelation
granted to the /irst -e-bers o/ the /irst h0-an and tr0ly thin2ing race by the spirit0al beings
/ro- .ho- .e li2e.ise derived o0r inner essence and li/e1 and .ho are1 really1 o0r o.n
present spirit0al selves# &ot being tests in a dog-atic religio0s sense at all1 they are not
@necessary to salvation#@ Aeavens and hells do not depend /or their reality 0pon their
acceptance or re>ection by -en1 /or instance; b0t .e -ean that theosophy provides 0s .ith
tests .hich are tests in the sa-e .ay as are the /acts .hich an e3pert in -athe-atics1 or in
che-istry1 or in any other branch o/ science or nat0ral philosophy1 is enabled to e-ploy in
order to ascertain .hen so-ething ne. co-es 0nder his eye1 or 0nder his hand1 .hether this
ne. thing agrees .ith the tr0ths already established by hi-sel/ and his collaborators in .or2#
,t o0r last -eeting .e treated per/orce only vag0ely1 and in a -ere s2etch1 o/ the di//erence
e3isting bet.een the !%irit and the !oul# The spirit is the i--ortal ele-ent in 0s1 the
deathless /la-e .ithin 0s .hich dies never1 .hich never .as born1 and .hich retains
thro0gho0t the entire -aha'-anvantara its o.n I0ality1 essence1 and li/e1 sending do.n into
o0r o.n being and into o0r vario0s planes1 certain o/ its rays or gar-ents or so0ls which we
are; and /0rther-ore1 that these rays1 in descending1 constit0ted the li/e'essences o/ a
hierarchy1 .hether .e treat o/ o0r o.n selves as individ0al h0-an beings1 or .hether .e
thin2 o/ the ato-1 or o/ the solar syste-1 or o/ the 0niversal cos-os#
:e have this evening to consider -ore partic0larly the nat0re and di//erences
o/ !el" and ego; and i/ .e have ti-e .e shall have need to re-ar2 at so-e length 0pon a
doctrine .hich is very strange to :estern ears1 and yet .hich contains in itsel/ the core1 the
very heart o/ .hat e-anational evol0tion is1 and .hich also sho.s to 0s .hat o0r destiny is#
$t is that destiny .hich leads 0s both do.n.ards and then 0p.ards1 bac2 to o0r spirit0al
so0rce1 b0t possessing ? rather being ? so-ething -ore than .e possessed ? or rather .ere
? .hen .e began o0r great evol0tionary pilgri-age#
&o. be/ore .e start 0pon a s2etch o/ the nat0re o/1 and the di//erence bet.een1 sel/ and ego1
let 0s 0nderta2e very brie/ly an analysis o/ .hat .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ 2ar-a1 /or it is
necessary here# ,s .e all 2no.12ara is a Sans2rit .ord1 and it is derived /ro- the Sans2rit
root 2ri1 a verb -eaning @to -a2e@ or @to do@; by adding the s0//i3 a to the root 2rior the
ste- 2ar1 .hich co-es thro0gh one o/ the r0les o/ Sans2rit gra--ar /ro- the root 2ri1 .e
have the abstract no0n1 2ara# 9iterally it -eans @doing1@ @-a2ing1@ hence @action#@ $t is a
technical ter-1 that is to say1 it is a ter- /ro- .hich hangs a .hole series o/ philosophical
doctrines#
:e can consider it best /ro- the standpoint o/ translating it by the .ord res0lts1 beca0se this
.ord @res0lts1@ or @/r0its1@ see-s to be its -ost general application in the technical sense o/
the esoteric philosophy# &o. 2ar-a is not a la.; no Bod -ade it# , h0-an la.1 let 0s
re-e-ber1 is a -a3i- o/ cond0ct or order o/ right laid do.n by a la.giver1 /orbidding .hat is
.rong and inc0lcating and co--anding .hat is right# <ar-a is not that# <ar-a is the ha6it o/
0niversal and eternal nat0re1 a habit inveterate1 pri-ordial1 .hich so .or2s that an act is
necessarily1 by destiny1 /ollo.ed by an inel0ctable res0lt1 a reaction "ro the nature in which
we li4e+ $t .as called by 7r# ,# # Sinnett1 one o/ A# # %lavats2y8s early helpers1 the @la. o/
ethical ca0sation1@ an inadeI0ate and -isleading ter-1 beca0se /irst1 2ar-a is -ore than
ethical1 it is both spirit0al and -aterial and all bet.een# $t has its application on the spirit0al1
-ental1 psychical1 and physical planes# To call it the @la. o/ ca0se and e//ect@ is -0ch better1
beca0se -ore general1 b0t even this does not describe it adeI0ately at all# The very essence
o/ the -eaning o/ this doctrine is that .hen anything acts in any state o/ i-bodied
conscio0sness1 it sets 0p an i--ediate chain o/ ca0sation1 acting on every plane to .hich
that chain o/ ca0sation reaches1 to .hich the /orce e3tends#
A0-an 2ar-a is born .ithin -an hi-sel/# :e are its creators and generators1 and also do .e
s0//er /ro- it or are clari/ied thro0gh it by o0r o.n previo0s actions# %0t .hat is this habit in
itsel/1 da! Ding an !ich/ as <ant .o0ld have said1 this inveterate1 pri-ordial habit o/ nat0re1
.hich -a2es it react to an aro0sing ca0se; That is a I0estion .hich .e shall1 at so-e /0t0re
ti-e1 have to go into -ore /0lly than .e can do it this evening1 b0t .e -ay say this -0ch5
that it is the will o" the !%iritual 6eing! who ha4e %receded u! in 6&gone 2al%a! or great
an4antara!/ and who now !tand a! god!/ and who!e will and thought direct and %rotect the
echani! and the t&%e and Hualit& o" the uni4er!e in which we li4e+These great beings
.ere once -en in so-e /or-er great -anvantara# $t is o0r destiny 0lti-ately to beco-e li2e
0nto the-1 and to be o/ their n0-ber1 i/ .e r0n the race o/ 2alpic evol0tion s0ccess/0lly#
7an1 as A# # %lavats2y has set it /orth1 .eaves aro0nd hi-sel/ /ro- birth to death a .eb o/
action and o/ tho0ght ? each one o/ the- prod0cing res0lts1 so-e i--ediately1 so-e later#
Each act is a seed# ,nd that seed inevitably1 by the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 .ill prod0ce the
res0lts .hich belong to it1 and none other#
S.abhava1 as .e re-e-ber1 is the doctrine o/ the essential characteristic o/ anything1 that
.hich -a2es it .hat it is1 and not so-ething else5 that .hich -a2es the lily a lily1 and not a
rose or a violet; that .hich -a2es one being a horse1 and another a /ly1 and another a blade
o/ grass1 and so on ? its essential nat0re#
$n o0r st0dy o/ hierarchies in /or-er -eetings1 .e noticed that each hierarchy proceeded
/ro- its o.n seed1 its o.n seed'logos or the highest part o/ it1 its cro.n or pinnacle; and that
everything rolled do.n /ro- it1 rolled o0t /ro- the seed into being# So the h0-an body gro.s
/ro- a -icroscopic seed1 as it .ere1 into the -an .e 2no.1 parta2ing o/ the nat0re aro0nd it1
beca0se it is a co-posite being# ,ll co-posite things are te-porary and transitory# $/ they
.ere not co-posite1 they co0ld not -ani/est in any -anner .hatever# $t is the co-posites1
the co-po0nd nat0re o/ the-1 .hich enables the- to learn and to -ingle .ith and to be one
in the -ani/ested sense .ith all the -ani/ested 0niverse aro0nd 0s#
:e -entioned in /or-er st0dies the .onder/0l doctrine o/ the ancient Stoics o/ Breece and
Ro-e1 called the 2ra!i! diE holou/ the @-ingling thro0gh everything1@ the @inter-ingling o/ all@;
.hen this doctrine .as applied to the gods1 the ancient Stoics called it theocra!y ? not
theocracy1 .hich -eans so-ething else entirely# Theocrasy -eans the @inter-ingling o/ the
gods1@ even as h0-an tho0ghts -ingle on earth#
&o. the sel/ re-ains eternally itsel/ on its o.n plane1 b0t in -ani/estation it inter-ingles1 i/
.e -ay 0se that ter-1 .ith the spheres o/ -atter by raying itsel/1 as does the s0n; by
co--0nicating itsel/ as the divine ray# $t shoots do.n into the spirit0al .orld1 and thence into
the intellect0al .orld1 and thence into the psychic .orld1 and thence into the astral .orld1 and
thence into the physical# $t creates at each one o/ these stages1 at each plane o/ the
hierarchy1 a vehicle1 a sheath1 a clothing1 a gar-ent1 andthe!e/ >0st e3pressed by vario0s
na-es1 on the higher %lane are called!oul!/ and on the lower %lane/ 6odie!/ and it is the
destiny o/ these so0ls ? gar-ents or vehicles or sheaths o/ the spirit ? 0lti-ately to be raised
0p.ards to divinity#
There is an i--ense di//erence bet.een p0rely uncon!ciou! spirit'li/e1 and /0lly sel/'
developed1 !el"1con!ciou! spirit0ality# The -onad starts o0t on its cyclic >o0rney as an 0nsel/'
conscio0s god'spar21 and ends it as a sel/'conscio0s god1 b0t it does this thro0gh
assi-ilation o/ -ani/ested li/e and by carrying 0p .ith itsel/ the vario0s so0ls .hich it has
created in its cyclic pilgri-age1 in the- developing its inner essence and thro0gh the-
0nderstanding and co-ing into relation .ith other -onads and other !oul'selves# $t is the
raising o/ the so0l !or rather the so0ls" thro0gh the sel/1 to divinity1 that constit0tes the
process o/ evol0tion1 the 0n/olding o/ the potentialities and capacities o/ the divine seed#
:e -ay no. as25 :hat is the di//erence bet.een the !el" and the ego; The indi4idual sel/1
.e 2no.1 is a spirit0al or rather -onadic @ato-#@ $t is that .hich in all things says @$ a-1@ and
hence is p0re conscio0sness1 direct conscio0sness1 not re/lected conscio0sness# The ego is
that .hich says @$ a- $@ ? indirect or re/lected conscio0sness1 conscio0sness re/lected bac2
0pon itsel/1 as it .ere1 recogniDing its o.n -ayavi e3istence as a @separate@ entity# See ho.
-arvelo0s these teachings are1 /or i/ .e 0nderstand this doctrine aright1 it -eans spirit0al
salvation /or 0s; and i/ .e 0nderstand it .rongly1 it -eans o0r going do.n.ardsK For
instance1 intensity o/ egois- is the 0nderstanding o/ it .rongly; and1 parado3 o/ parado3es1
i-personality is the 0nderstanding o/ it rightly# ,s Ees0s said in the /irst three Bospels1
7atthe.1 7ar21 and 902e1 voicing one o/ the teachings o/ the ancient .isdo-5 @Ae .ho saves
his li/e shall lose it1 b0t he .ho gives 0p his li/e /or -y sa2e1 shall /ind it#@
Aere .e have the real -eaning i-bodied in a @dar2 saying@ o/ a -atter that .e st0died
so-e.hat at o0r last -eeting5 the doctrine o/ the loss o/ the so0l# There1 in .ords ascribed to
Ees0s and thrice repeated1 .e have the inner -eaning o/ this -ystery5 the 6ecau!e/ the wh&1
and the how o/ it#
:e ret0rn to the strange doctrine -entioned be/ore1 strange to :estern ears1 strange to
:estern tho0ght# No0 .ill re-e-ber that A# # %lavats2y /reI0ently describes the processes
o/ evol0tion and o/ develop-ent as the starting o0t o/ the spirit0al essence do.n the
shado.y arc into -atter1 and its gro.ing -ore and -ore dense1 co-pact1 and heavy the
deeper it goes into the ocean o/ the -aterial .orld1 0ntil it passes a certain point ? the t0rning
point o/ the /orces .hich ari!ing in it!el" 0rge it /or.ard in that -aha'-anvantara; and that
then it begins to rise again along the 0p.ard cycle1 the l0-ino0s arc1 bac2 to.ards the
divinity /ro- .hich it e-anated as a ray or rays# This -onadic essence1 this -onadic strea-1
passing into evol0tion is1 li2e an ar-y or host1 co-posed o/ a I0asi'in/init0de o/ individ0al
-onads# :e -ay call the- spirit0al ato-s1 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2s# They gather to
the-selves as they descend into -atter ? .hich is eternally there /ro- the in/init0de o/
evolving beings in all stages o/ develop-ent .hich had preceded the- ? or1 rather1
they deri4ere/lected or indirect conscio0sness !sel/'conscio0sness" /ro- that contact and
inter-ingling# They begin to have -ore than the -ere /eeling or rather si-ple cognition o/ @$
a-1@ or p0re conscio0sness; they begin to /eel the-selves sel/'conscio0sly at one .ith all
that is# The 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2 is beginning sel/'conscio0sly to recogniDe its o.n
essential and inherent divinity# $t is developing !el"'conscio0sness1 and this !el"'
conscio0sness is .hat .e call the ego1 the recognition that @$ a- 01@ a part or ray o/ the
,ll recogni=ing that .ondro0s tr0th#
&o. consider the hierarchy o/ the h0-an being gro.ing /ro- the sel/ as its seed ? ten
stages5 three on the ar0pa or i--aterial plane1 and seven !or perhaps better1 si3" on the
plane o/ -atter or -ani/estation# 4n each one o/ these seven planes !or si3 planes"1 the sel/
or ara-at-an develops a sheath or gar-ent1 the 0pper ones sp0n o/ spirit1 or light i/ yo0
.ill; and the lo.er ones sp0n o/ shado. or -atter; and each !uch !heath or garent i! a
!oul8 and bet.een the sel/ and a so0l ? any so0l ? is the ego# First in order is the sel/1 the
divine entity or thing1 or -onad1 behind all; and gro.ing /ro- .ithin it1 li2e a s0n developing
/ro- .ithin its o.n essence1 along the 2ar-ic lines or paths o/ the -e-ories or @res0lts@ or
@/r0its@ bro0ght over /ro- the preceding great -anvantara1 th0s developing strictly according
to the s2andhas in its o.n nat0re1 is the ego1 contacting and inter-ingling .ith -atter and the
other hosts o/ intelligences o/ thi!-aha'-anvantara# The ego thro.s o0t /ro- itsel/ ? as the
seed .ill thro. o0t its green blade1 developing into the tree .ith its branches and its t.igs
and its n0-berless leaves ? it thro.s o0t /ro- itsel/ its gar-ent or sheath or vehicle sp0n o/
light or sp0n o/ shado.1 according to the plane or point 0pon .hich it is; and this ethereal or
spirit0al or astral gar-ent o/ the ego is the so0l ? that is1 any so0l#
There are -any so0ls in -an# There are li2e.ise -any egos in -an; b0t bac2 o/ the- all1
both egos and so0ls1 is the deathless /la-e1 the sel/# Re-e-ber that the ancient Egyptians
also ta0ght o/ the vario0s so0ls o/ -an1 o/ the -ani/old selves o/ -an1 o/ the several egos o/
-an# :e have not spo2en o/ten as yet o/ the ancient Egyptian teachings1 beca0se they are
e3ceedingly di//ic0lt on acco0nt o/ being in.rapped in co-plicate sy-bol and allegory; they
are the -ost hid1 perhaps1 the -ost enshro0ded .ith tropes and /ig0res o/ speech o/ any
ancient syste-# %0t the old tr0ths are there; they are the sa-e age'old teachings#
&o. evol0tion is the 0n/olding1 the developing1 the bringing o0t /ro- the divine seed .ithin o/
all its latent capacities1 its s.abhava in short; its individ0al characteristics or the essence o/
its being# The .hole e//ort o/ evol0tion1 ho.ever1 is not -erely to bring o0t that .hich is .ithin
each individ0al seed1 b0t also that each individ0al -onad1 and each ego1 and each so0l1 shall
gather 0p /ro- the -atter in .hich it .or2s other less progressed entities .hich beco-e
parts o/ itsel/1 and shall carry the- along .ith it on the arc o/ the evol0tionary >o0rney
0p.ards#
Each one o/ 0s is there/ore a potential 6hrist1 a potential 6hristos1 beca0se .hile .e are1
each one o/ 0s1 a 6hristos .ithin1 intrinsically1 each one o/ 0s is1 or sho0ld be1 a @savior@ o/
his /ello. -en li2e.ise1 and o/ all the lo.er beings 0nder hi-1 0nder his g0idance and s.ay#
$/ a -an or .o-an ill'treats or treats nobly the ato-s o/ his or her body1 he or she is held
responsible at the hands o/ 2ar-a1 so to say1 be/ore the divine trib0nal o/ his o.n sel/; yea1 to
the very last /arthing he shall be held to a strict acco0nting# 9oo2 at the dignity .ith .hich this
noble teaching endo.s and cro.ns o0r h0-an speciesK :hat a s0bli-e -eaning do the
doctrines o/ o0r Teachers have in this lightK 7an is responsible; beca0se .hen he has
achieved sel/'conscio0sness even in -inor degree he beco-es a creator thereby1 and
beco-es there/ore responsible to a coordinate e3tent# Ae beco-es a collaborator and co'
.or2er .ith the gods .ho- he is destined to >oin as one o/ the-selves#
$/ the li/e'strea-1 i/ the strea- o/ -onads1 i/ any individ0al -onad has passed the lo.est
point o/ its -anvantaric cycles sa/ely1 has sa/ely s.0ng past the path leading do.n.ard at
the -idpoint o/ the /o0rth ro0nd1 and s0ccess/0lly starts o0t on the 0p.ard .ay1 along the
l0-ino0s arc1 it is sa/e to a certain e3tent1 b0t not yet .holly so1 beca0se that sa-e test
co-es again at the -idpoint in each ro0nd# %0t the -idpoint o/ the /o0rth ro0nd is the -ost
critical# :e all 2no. .hat a ro0nd is1 and the seven thro0gh .hich .e -0st pass be/ore .e
co-plete o0r evol0tionary pilgri-age on this planet# %0t i/ the -onadic spar2 passes sa/ely
thro0gh each o/ the three ro0nds to co-e1 then in the last ro0nd1 on the last or seventh
globe1 in the last race o/ that globe1 he shall blosso- o0t as a dhyan'chohan1 a @lord o/
-editation@ ? already al-ost a god# ,nd those o/ 0s .ho shall have -ade the race
s0ccess/0lly shall1 a/ter the long nirvana that a.aits 0s a/ter the seven ro0nds are co-pleted1
.hich nirvana is a period o/ 0nspea2able bliss corresponding to the devachan bet.een t.o
earth lives ? those o/ 0s1 $ say1 .ho shall have beco-e these lords o/ -editation1 shall
beco-e the /orer0nners1 the -a2ers1 the developers1 the gods o/ the /0t0re planet .hich
shall be the child o/ this1 as this globe1 Terra1 .as the child o/ o0r -other1 the -oon; and so
on /orever1 b0t al.ays advancing higher and higher 0p the r0ngs o/ the .ondro0s ladder o/
cos-ic li/e#
This is the strange and .onder/0l doctrine1 strange and .onder/0l to :estern ears# Endless
are the ra-i/ications o/ tho0ght .hich spring /ro- it# Thin2 o/ the destiny be/ore 0sK Nes1 and
it is also .ise to loo2 at the other side# 9et 0s t0rn o0r /aces /ro- the -orning s0nlight
occasionally1 and loo2 in the other direction# Re-e-ber that .e have innate and inel0ctable
-oral responsibilities .here ethical proble-s are involved# :e have1 to a certain e3tent1
2no.ledge; hence po.er1 hence responsibility# %ehind 0s1 trailing 0p.ards1 are in/init0des o/
beings .ho are less than .e# Each one o/ the- is on the sa-e path .hereon .e have
trodden o0rselves; each one o/ the- having to go over that sa-e path1 stained .ith the blood
/ro- o0r o.n /eet# ,nd shall they /ail /or lac2 o/ o0r help; They shall have to pass the danger
point1 even as .e have done; beca0se the teaching is that at the -iddle point o/ every
evol0tion there is a do.n.ard path1 leading into spheres o/ being grosser and -ore -aterial
than o0rs#
:hen o0r planet /irst started1 or rather /irst .as started1 on its co0rse o/ e-anational
evol0tion1 the propelling agents in that .ere the dhyan'chohans /ro- the l0nar chain1 i#e#1
those .ho had r0n the evol0tionary race s0ccess/0lly there; and behind the-1 trailing a/ter
the- .e ca-e1 seven classes o/ 0s1 the -ost evolved1 the less1 the less1 the less1 the less1
the ani-als1 the vegetables1 and the -inerals#
40r ti-e is dra.ing to a close this evening1 b0t there is one point .hich it see-s inc0-bent
0pon 0s to to0ch 0pon at least slightly# :hen 9eibniD spo2e o/ the inherent 0rge in every
-onad propelling it into -ani/estation1 he spo2e /ro- the ancient boo2s1 /ro- the
ythagorean and the &eoplatonic teachings1 o/ .hich he .as a st0dent1 and he -eant .hat
.e do .hen .e spea2 o/ the s.abhava1 the essential nat0re o/ a thing# There is1 ho.ever1
one point o/ his teaching to .hich .e -0st all0de1 .here he says in s0bstance that o0r .orld
is the best possible .orld in the 0niverse# Those o/ yo0 .ho are acI0ainted .ith the great
French philosopher1 Foltaire1 -ay re-e-ber his boo21 *andide/ or @4pti-is-1@ in .hich
Foltaire evidently is tilting at the opti-istic theories o/ 9eibniD1 and in .hich t.o o/ his
characters are the inveterately irrational opti-ist1 =r# angloss1 and the yo0ng -an1 6andide1
=r# angloss8s p0pil1 a yo0ng philosopher1 a thoro0gh'going sel/ish opti-ist1 .ho accepted all
the reb0//s o/ li/e .ith great indi//erence and cal-ness1 and .ith a s-ile at h0-an -isery#
,nd Foltaire has a passage co--enting 0pon these t.o characters !*andide1 ch# vi"1 .here
he says1 .ith all that p0ngent1 aphoristic point .hich is so great an orna-ent o/ the French
geni0s1 Si cEe!t ici le eilleur de! onde! %o!!i6le!/ Hue !ont donc le! autre!; ? @$/ this is
the best o/ all possible .orlds1 ho. abo0t the others;@ , very co-prehensive re-ar2 indeed1
and a very tr0e one# $t is not the best possible o/ all .orlds# Far /ro- it# $t .ere indeed a
.eary and hopeless o0tloo2 /or o0r h0-an 2ind1 i/ it .ereK Net the great Ber-an philosopher
.as right in this sense1 that it is the best possible .orld .hich the .orld8s 2ar-a has enabled
it to be or to prod0ce; and i/ it is not better1 .e o0rselves are largely responsible /or it#
:e see in this a-0sing re/erence to the theories o/ 9eibniD and Foltaire the tr0e -eaning o/
the .ord opti-is-# 40r o.n -a>estic philosophy gives 0s a /ar .ider vision1 a -ore
penetrating insight into things1 a pro/o0nder 0nderstanding o/ the so'called riddle o/
li/e# #4er&thing i! relati4e/ one o/ the greatest teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy# There are
no absol0tes !in the 0s0al E0ropean sense o/ that .ord" any.here# Everything is relative1
beca0se everything is interlin2ed and inter-ingles .ith every other thing# $/ there .ere an
absol0te1 in the E0ropean sense1 there co0ld be nothing b0t the barren silence and
i--0tability o/ co-plete and 0tter per/ection1 .hich is i-possible1 /or there .o0ld be in s0ch
case1 there co0ld be1 no gro.th1 no /0t0re gro.th1 no past develop-ent1 spirit0ally1 -entally1
or in any other .ise#
:e no. close# ,t o0r ne3t -eeting .e shall ta2e 0p the st0dy o/ the so'called hells and
heavens1 /or this branch o/ o0r investigation is a very necessary part o/ the psychological
side o/ o0r st0dy .hich .e began at o0r last -eeting# :e say this evening only this1 that all
the doctrines and dog-as and teachings and tenets o/ the great .orld religions are based
/0nda-entally 0pon so-e -ore or less obsc0re tr0th1 0s0ally very -0ch obsc0red by
ignorance or /anaticis-1 or by both# ,nd1 in concl0sion1 let 0s note .ell that there are no
hells1 and there are no heavens1 as these are co--only s0pposed to be1 b0t spheres o/ li/e
and e3perience corresponding to each class o/ the -yriad degrees o/ entities in being# ,s
Ees0s is said to have stated in the 6hristian Bospels5 @$n -y Father8s ho0se are -any
-ansions#@ There are in the endless 2os-os inn0-erable appropriate places o/ retrib0tive
bliss or retrib0tive .oe /or all grades o/ so0ls1 and in these 2ar-ically appropriate spheres1
the co0ntless hosts o/ evolving entities o/ all classes /ind their properly and e3actly ad>0sted
places#
hapter Fourteen
Aeavens and Aells5 Teachings o/ the Esoteric hilosophy and o/ the E3oteric
Religions#
The devachan L@heaven@M -erges /ro- its highest into its lo.est degree ? by insensible
gradations; .hile /ro- the last step o/de4achan Ldo.n.ardsM1 the Ego .ill o/ten /ind itsel/
in )4itchaE!L@hell8s@M /aintest state1 .hich1 to.ards the end o/ the @spirit0al selection@ o/
events -ay beco-e a 6ona "ide @,vitcha#@ ? The Mahata <etter!/ p# 1++
Fro- <a-a 9o2a then # # # the ne.ly translated @So0ls@ go all !6ut the !hell!B according to
their attractions1 either to =evachan or ,vitchi# ? $bid#1 p# 199
Ne s0//er /ro- yo0rselves# &one else co-pels1 # # # ? Sir Ed.in ,rnold1 The <ight o"
)!ia/ b2# +
:E 4E& o0r st0dies this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/vol0-e $$1 page 2731
the /ollo.ing5
For the evol0tion o/ Spirit into -atter co0ld never have been achieved; nor .o0ld it have
received its /irst i-p0lse1 had not the bright spirits sacri/iced their o.n respective s0per'
ethereal essences to ani-ate the -an o/ clay1 by endo.ing each o/ his inner principles
.ith a portion1 or rather1 a re/lection o/ that essence# The =hyanis o/ the Seven Aeavens
!the seven planes o/ %eing" are the &4U7E&4$ o/ the act0al and the /0t0re Ele-ents1
>0st as the ,ngels o/ the Seven o.ers o/ nat0re ? the grosser e//ects o/ .hich are
perceived by 0s in .hat Science is pleased to call the @-odes o/ -otion@ ? the
i-ponderable /orces and .hat not ? are the still higher no0-enoi o/ still higher
Aierarchies#
This is an e3ceedingly interesting paragraph# $t contains1 in s-all co-pass1 the entire o0tline
o/ the st0dies that .e have been p0rs0ing /or so-e .ee2s past#
$n ta2ing 0p this evening the st0dy o/ the so'called heavens and hells1 it -ay be .ell /irst o/
all to repeat that there are no heavens and there are no hells1 a! the!e are outlined in the
e@oteric religion!# Those conceptions are based1 ho.ever1 0pon teachings .hich act0ally
ca-e /ro- the 7ystery'doctrines and they contain in the-selves the o0tline o/ a tr0th1
indeed1 o/ a great tr0th1 .hen properly 0nderstood# %0t .hile .e do not accept the 6hristian
heaven and the 6hristian hell1 nor the 7oha--edan heavens nor the 7oha--edan hells1
nor the literal e3oteric teachings concerning the- as /o0nd a-ong the %0ddhists and the
ancient Bree2s and the Ro-ans1 nevertheless there act0ally are in nat0re certain spheres o/
being in .hich those portions o/ -an8s constit0tion .hich s0rvive the death o/ the physical
body /ind a%%ro%riate d.elling places; they are1 in /act1 retrib0tive real-s or spheres o/ being1
to .hich are -agnetically attracted those parts o/ his constit0tion .hich in hi- are o/ si-ilar
or identical I0ality#
Ees0s1 in the Bospel @according to Eohn1@ 1*th chapter1 the second verse1 says the /ollo.ing5
@$n -y Father8s ho0se are -any -ansions5 i/ it .ere not so1 $ .o0ld have told yo0# $ go to
prepare a place /or yo0#@ Ae said this in the long /inal address .hich he gave to his disciples
be/ore his arrest and appearance be/ore the a0thorities1 according to the 6hristian legends#
There is no great religion o/ the ancient ti-e .hich does not teach in -ore or less clear and
de/inite /or- the e3istence o/ certain /orces o/ re.ard or o/ retrib0tion1 acting a/ter -an8s
death in appropriate spheres in .hich the so'called so0l o/ -an -eets .ith retrib0tion or1 as
so-e say1 @p0nish-ent@ or @re.ard@ a/ter physical death# Those spheres in .hich the so0l
shall receive appropriate retrib0tive p0rgation or p0nish-ent are called hells in the English
tong0e; and those in .hich the so0l shall receive appropriate retrib0tive repose and re.ard
are co--only called heavens; and beca0se these .ords are /a-iliar to E0ropeans1 and
represent .ith /air acc0racy the general idea o/ post-orte- retrib0tion prevalent in all great
religions1 it -ay be best /or 0s to 0se the-# %0t .e -0st positively clear o0t o/ o0r -inds1
.ash o0r -inds clean o/1 all ideas that have been p0t into the- by the -ised0cation o/ the
dog-atic theologies1 i/ .e are to gain a correct idea o/ .hat the esoteric philosophy teaches
on these lines#
:e -0st re-e-ber that .e are st0dying the occ0ltis- o/ the archaic ages# &o. this .ord
occ0ltis- -eant originally only the science o/ things hid; even in the 7iddle ,ges o/ E0rope1
those philosophers .ho .ere the /orer0nners o/ the -odern scientists1 those .ho then
st0died physical nat0re1 called their science occulti!/ and their st0dies occult1 -eaning the
things that .ere @hid1@ or not 2no.n to the co--on r0n o/ -an2ind# S0ch a -edieval
philosopher .as ,lbert0s 7agn0s1 a Ber-an; and so also .as Roger %acon1 an English-an;
both o/ the thirteenth cent0ry o/ the 6hristian era#
There/ore1 occ0ltis- as .e 0se the ter-1 and as it sho0ld be 0sed1 -eans the st0dy o/ the
hid things o/ being1 the science o/ li/e or 0niversal nat0re# $n one sense this .ord can be 0sed
to -ean the st0dy o/ 0n0s0al @pheno-ena1@ .hich -eaning it 0s0ally has today a-ong
people .ho do not thin21 or .ho .ill not thin21 o/ the vastly larger /ield o/ cau!e! .hich
occ0ltis-1 properly spea2ing1 investigates# =o0btless -ere pheno-ena have their place in
st0dy1 b0t they are on the /rontier1 as it .ere1 on the o0ts2irts ? and they are the
s0per/icialities ? o/ occ0ltis-# $n st0dying tr0e occ0ltis- .e -0st penetrate deep into
the cau!al -ysteries o/ being; and1 in very tr0th1 .e have been doing this in these st0dies5
step by step have .e been going deeper into the real- o/ ca0ses#
&o. in order /0lly to co-prehend the destiny o/ the so0l1 post-orte-1 and be/ore its ne3t
rebirth in a physical body on this plane1 it is inc0-bent 0pon 0s /irst to say that there is a vast
/ield o/ teachings .ith regard to death 0pon .hich .e do not /eel at present privileged to
roa-# The reason /or o0r necessary reticence and silence is this1 that the teachings .ith
regard to the deeper -ysteries o/ death give 2eys to -ysteries o/ still greater -agnit0de and
scope1 and in ancient days .ere co--0nicated only to a chosen /e.1 at any ti-e# ,ny one o/
yo0 .ho chooses to loo2 into the religio0s -ystical literat0res o/ the .orld can prove this /act
/or hi-sel/#
$n /or-er st0dies .e have traced the peregrination o/ the -onad /ro- the state o/ latency into
-ani/estation1 a! 4iewed "ro 6elow+ &o. the -onad is a spirit0al @ato-1@ so to say; let 0s
call it this evening a spirit0al radical !radicle"1 0sing this .ord radical in precisely the do0ble
sense in .hich A# # %lavats2y 0sed it .hen she spo2e o/ co-ets as @those long'haired
sidereal radicals@ ? .ith a to0ch o/ real h0-or in one sense1 b0t also hinting1 by the 0se o/
the .ord1 at a great tr0th o/ the esoteric philosophy .ith regard to co-ets in calling the-
radicals# No0 2no. .hat radical originally -eant# $t -eant a !little" @root1@ /ro- the 9atin radi@1
hence its application to a co-et as the root or the ger o/ a /0t0re .orld# So1 also1 a -onad
is a radical1 a radical in both the senses in .hich she 0sed the .ord5 an @aggressive@ !in the
sense o/ sel/'acting1 sel/'developing" entity1 and also a root1 a ger- o/ a /0t0re god#
&o. this radical1 in order to attain sel/'conscio0sness1 and conscio0s sel/'conscio0sness1
-0st pass do.n the arc o/ shado.s 0ntil it reaches the turning %oint o/ the great cycle in that
-anvantara1 and as an integral part o/ and belonging to the hierarchy evolving in that
-anvantara# %y that ti-e1 i/ its 2ar-a is so1 it has reached conscio0s sel/'conscio0sness1
and is -ani/esting on o0r plane as a -an# There0pon it starts 0p.ards along the l0-ino0s
arc or the arc o/ ascension1 and i/ it is s0ccess/0l in its cyclic pilgri-age1 it /inally blosso-s
/orth into a god# :e -0st re-e-ber this general o0tline i/ .e .ish to 0nderstand clearly .hat
.e -ean by heavens and hells#
The .hole ai- o/ evol0tion1 the entire destiny o/ the spirit0al radical1 is the elevating o/ the
conscio0sly personal into the conscio0sly i-personal ? so i-portant a tho0ght that .e are
obliged to say that it lies as the very /irst conception and as the root o/ the .hole esoteric
philosophy# , sel/'conscio0s god can be s0ch only beca0se it has a 4ehicle o" !el" to .or2
thro0gh; and this is .hat the spirit0al radical lac2s .hen it starts o0t on its cyclic pilgri-age#
7anhood -0st be raised to godhood#
:e -ay begin to see here the -eaning o/ .hat A# # %lavats2y spo2e o/ as the loss o/ the
so0l# ,t every step do.n.ard1 as its sel/'conscio0sness is slo.ly and grad0ally evolved in
any -anvantara1 the -onad /abricates into itsel/1 or secretes /ro- itsel/1 and e3cretes /ro-
itsel/1 vehicles proper /or its cogniDing the /orces and -atter on the vario0s planes thro0gh
.hich it passes1 and in .hich it -ani/ests# Those on the higher planes are egos1 and each
ego secretes its o.n appropriate vehicle called a so0l# 6onseI0ently1 there is an ego and a
so0l /or each step do.n.ard5 a d0al vehicle /or -ani/esting the -onadic essence on every
plane# Thro0gh the .hole1 as a golden cord1 r0ns the sel/1 the inner-ost conscio0sness1 the
spirit0al @$ a-#@ The ego'so0l gives to the -onad the conscio0sness @$ a- $#@ The sel/1
ho.ever1 is the sa-e in all o/ 0s# @$ a- $@ is the I0ality only o/ the ego# There/ore the
i-portant thing is to @save@ the ego# The higher egos are saved beca0se o/ previo0s
salvation gained in /or-er -anvantaras# %0t the lo.er egos and their so0ls are b0ilt 0p o0t o/
the -atter and conscio0sness o/ thi! -anvantara1 and they -0st be @saved#@ The state o/
h0-an conscio0sness in .hich .e ? -an2ind ? no. live in this epoch and in this -anvantara
is called in the individ0al the h0-an so0l1 the h0-an ego; and this h0-an so0l and this
h0-an ego -0st be @saved1@ beca0se o0r sel/'conscio0sness is centered therein# :e 0se
the .ord saved1 beca0se none better occ0rs to 0s; at least the .ord is /a-iliar# This saving
-eans that the ego'so0l -0st be resc0ed /ro- the -agnetic attraction o/ -atter#
%0t .hat happens i/ its ed0cation is inco-plete .hen at the botto- o/ the arc1 be/ore
beginning the ascent along the l0-ino0s arc1 it beco-es 0nable to r0n the race and /ails;
S0ppose that the p0ll o/ -atter is too strong and that its attraction is do.n.ard# Slo.ly1 in
that case1 the lin2s .ith the higher sel/ are bro2en1 the golden chain is r0pt0red1 and the
.hole e//ort o/ the -onad in that -anvantara is lost# The entity cycling do.n.ard is .hat is
called a lost so0l#
&o. a lost so0l has na0ght to do .ith the heavens and the hells# The state o/ nirvana1 again1
has nothing to do .ith the heavens and the hells# The heavens and the hells concern only the
tr0ly huan entity5 that is1 the h0-an ego and the h0-an so0l; only this grade o/
conscio0sness1 /or to it belong those conscio0snesses .hich can parta2e o/ the conception
o/1 and can e3perience1 /elicity or -isery# &irvana is beyond /elicity; it is1 o/ co0rse1 beyond
-isery# $ts opposite pole is nirvana'avichi1 .hich is the 0tter contrast o/ nirvana; it is the
lo.est point1 the nether pole o/ conscio0s being#
:hen the body brea2s 0p at physical death the astral ele-ents re-ain in the @shado.'.orld@
.ith the sa-e conscio0s center1 as in li/e1 clinging .ithin the-1 still vitaliDing the-; and
certain processes there go on1 b0t there is no need /or 0s to ta2e ti-e this evening in
disc0ssing .hat 2a-a'lo2a is or devachan is1 partic0larly# :hen the @second death1@ a/ter
that o/ the physical body1 ta2es place ? and there are -any deaths1 that is to say1 -any
changes o/ the vehicles o/ the ego ? .hen the !econd death ta2es place1 .hat beco-es o/
the h0-an center1 the tr0ly h0-an entity; :e have been told that the higher part o/ it
.ithdra.s into itsel/ all that aspires to.ards it1 and ta2es that @all@ .ith it into the devachan;
and that the at-an1 .ith the b0ddhi1 and .ith the higher part o/ the -anas ? .hich is the so'
called h0-an so0l1 or the -ind ? beco-es there0pon the spirit0al -onad o/ -an# Strictly
spea2ing1 this is the divine -onad .ithin its vehicle ? at-an and b0ddhi ? co-bined .ith the
h0-an ego in its higher -anasic ele-ent; b0t they are >oined into one a/ter death1 and are
hence spo2en o/ as the spirit0al -onad#
The h0-an -onad @goes@ to devachan# =evachan is a Tibetan .ord and -ay be translated
as @god'land1@ @god'co0ntry1 @god'region#@ There are -any degrees in devachan5 the highest1
the inter-ediate1 and the lo.est# :hat beco-es o/ the entity1 on the other hand1 the lo.er
h0-an so0l1 that is so be/o0led .ith earth'tho0ght and the lo.er instincts that it cannot rise;
There -ay be eno0gh in it o/ the spirit'nat0re to hold it together as an entity and enable it to
beco-e a reincarnating entity1 b0t it is /o0l1 it is heavy; its tendency is conseI0ently
do.n.ards# 6an it there/ore rise into a heavenly /elicity; 6an it go even into the lo.er real-s
o/ devachan and there en>oy its -odic0- o/ the beatit0de1 bliss1 o/ everything that is noble
and bea0ti/0l; &o# There is an appropriate sphere1 a sphere appropriate /or every degree o/
develop-ent o/ the ego'so0l1 and it gravitates to that sphere and re-ains there 0ntil it is
thoro0ghly p0rged1 0ntil the sin has been .ashed o0t1 so to say#
These are the so'called hells1 beneath even the lo.est parts o/ devachan; and the ar0pa
heavens are the highest parts o/ the devachan# &irvana is a very di//erent thing /ro- the
heavens# &irvana is a state o/ 0tter bliss and co-plete1 0ntra--eled conscio0sness1 a state
o/ absorption in p0re being1 and is the .ondro0s destiny o/ those .ho have reached
s0perh0-an 2no.ledge and p0rity and spirit0al ill0-ination# $t really is %er!onal absorption
into or identi/ication .ith the sel/ ? the highest SE9F# $t is also the state o/ the -onadic
entities in the period that intervenes bet.een -inor -anvantaras or ro0nds o/ a planetary
chain; and -ore /0lly so bet.een each seven'ro0nd period or =ay o/ %rah-a and the
s0cceeding =ay or ne. 2alpa o/ a planetary chain# ,t these last ti-es1 starting /orth /ro- the
seventh sphere in the seventh ro0nd1 the -onadic entities have passed /ar beyond even the
highest state o/ devachan# Too p0re and too /ar advanced even /or s0ch a condition as the
devachanic /elicity1 they go to their appropriate sphere and condition1 .hich latter is the
nirvana /ollo.ing the end o/ the seventh ro0nd#
&o. .hat do the ancients say in their e3oteric religions abo0t these so'called heavens and
hells; Every s0ch ancient religion ta0ght that the so'called heavens are divided into steps or
grades o/ ascending bliss and p0rity; and the so'called hells into steps or grades o/
increasing p0rgation or s0//ering# The esoteric doctrine1 or occ0ltis-1 teaches that the one is
not a p0nish-ent; nor is the other1 strictly spea2ing1 a re.ard# The teaching is1 si-ply1 that
each entity a/ter physical death is dra.n to the appropriate sphere to .hich the 2ar-ic
destiny o/ the entity -agnetically attracts it# ,s a -an .or2s1 as a -an so.s1 in his li/e1 that
and that only shall he reap a/ter death# Bood seed prod0ces good /r0it; bad seed1 tares ? and
perhaps even nothing o/ val0e or o/ spirit0al 0se /ollo.s a negative and colorless li/e# There
is no @la.@ o/ 2ar-a; .e repeat1 there is no @la.@ o/ 2ar-a# There are no @la.s@ o/ nat0re; .e
repeat1 there are no @la.s@ o/ nat0re# :hat is a nat0ral @la.@; $s a nat0ral @la.@ a god; $s it a
being; $s it an entity; $s it a /orce; $s it an energy; $/ so1 .hat god prod0ces it; The .ord law1
ho.ever1 is convenient eno0gh %ro4ided we under!tand what we ean 6& it# erhaps no
better .ord1 in o0r day1 co0ld be /o0nd /or ordinary 0sage in .riting pop0larly or in
conversation# %0t do not let 0s -a2e the -ista2e o/ ta2ing abstractions /or realities#
$n this st0dy o/ the -arvelo0s doctrines o/ occ0ltis- .e shall never -ove a step /or.ard
to.ards a proper 0nderstanding o/ nat0re1 i/ .e do -a2e this -ista2e# :e -0st .ash o0r
-inds clean o/ 4ccidental scienti/ic and theological -ised0cation# The so'called la.s o/
nat0re and the la. o/ 2ar-a are si-ply the vario0s .or2ings o/ conscio0snesses in nat0re5
tr0ly and act0ally1 they are ha6it!/ ha6it! o" 6eing!+ :e replace the abstractions o/ 4ccidental
science and theology .ith the action and the inel0ctable res0lts thereo/ o/ conscio0snesses
and .ills in the spheres o/ being o/ the hierarchies o/ li/e# :e are si-ply ab0sing o0r
intelligence1 st0lti/ying o0r intellects1 .hen .e go aro0nd and aro0nd the vicio0s circles o/
-aterialistic theory and thin2 .e have satis/ied o0r inI0iring -inds by replacing the .or2 o/
endless hosts o/ beings in and o/ nat0re .ith an abstraction called la. or la.s# Thin2 o/ itK =o
.e realiDe that not one single great thin2er o/ the ancients1 0ntil the 6hristian era1 ever tal2ed
abo0t la.s o/ nat0re1 as i/ these la.s .ere living beings1 as i/ these abstractions .ere act0al
entities .hich did things; =id the law! o/ navigation ever navigate a ship; =oes the law o/
gravity p0ll the planets together; =oes it 0nite or p0ll the ato-s together; &onsense# This
.ord la. is si-ply an abstraction1 an e3pression /or the action o" entitie! in nature# The
ancients p0t realities1 li4ing 6eing!/ in the place o/ la.s .hich1 as .e 0se the ter-1 are only
abstractions; they did not cheat the-selves so easily .ith .ords# They called the- gods#
Fery good; call the-1 then1 gods# They called the- spirit0al entities# Fery good1 then; call
the- so# 6all the- dhyanis1 or by any other na-e yo0 please# %0t pin yo0r /aith1 direct yo0r
intellects1 to act0al1 living beings1 to realities1 not to nothingnesses1 not to abstractions1 .hich
have no reality e3cept as -odes o/ speech#
9et 0s ta2e /or e3a-ple the ancient %rah-anical teachings# There .e /ind -any divisions o/
heavens and hells; b0t the co--on one is the division into seven lo.er spheres or lo2as1 or
hells1 or in/ernal halls1 and the seven s0perior lo2as1 .hich .e -ay call heavens# The
%0ddhist teaching 0s0ally gives the n0-ber as 21 hells1 /or .hich the co--on .ord
is nara2a!; and the %0ddhists also 0sed the .ord lo2as /or the higher spheres; b0t note .ell
that in all ancient syste-s1 these higher and lo.er spheres or grades .ere in ascending and
descending steps# There .as the highest1 and all the others .hich /ollo.ed1 decreasing in
/elicity and p0rity by degrees1 each one gro.ing -ore -aterial and less happy .ith each step
do.n.ard1 0ntil they passed insensibly into the higher hells1 and here again still /0rther
increasing in -ateriality do.n.ard 0ntil the end o/ the hierarchy o/ these stages .as
reached#
,-ong the very lo.est o/ these hells the %0ddhists placed a4ichi+ This is a Sans2rit .ord1
and its general -eaning is @.aveless1@ having no .aves or -ove-ent1 s0ggesting the
stagnation o/ li/e and being in i--obility; it also -eans @.itho0t happiness1@ or @.itho0t
repose@; and belo. that another hierarchy begins1 a ne. .orld# :hat endless real-s /or
spec0lation open to 0s hereK
:e can here b0t s2etch ? o0r re-aining ti-e this evening is so short ? an o0tline o/ the
doctrines concerning the heavens and the hells# $n beginning .ith a general o0tline1 .e are
p0rs0ing the general plan o/ o0r st0dies here# First1 .e try to give the general s2etch1 the
general vie.1 later /illing in the necessary details as .e p0rs0e o0r s0b>ect1 altho0gh
/reI0ently all0ding to another teaching connected .ith it1 p0rposely doing so; and in this .ay
.e are /ollo.ing the ancient syste- or -ethod o/ teaching these di//erent s0b>ects# $n o0r
-odern 4ccidental instit0tions o/ learning1 it is c0sto-ary1 perhaps a rigoro0s reI0ire-ent1
that the lect0rer shall p0rs0e to the end all details o/ a s0b>ect e-bar2ed 0pon5 opening one
line o/ investigation and not deviating /ro- it 0ntil everything in theory and practice1 or
s0pposed to be there1 is 2no.n1 or tho0ght to be 2no.n; and .hen that one line o/ st0dy is
/0lly e3ha0sted1 and .hen the intellect is co-pletely crystalliDed in that /or-1 and .eary1 then
opening a ne. line o/ investigation# This -ethod is positively contrary to nat0re# &either child
nor ad0lt learns li/e8s lessons in s0ch arti/icial /ashion# The ancients 2ne. better the
psychology o/ teaching and learning# They b0ilt 0p1 /irst1 the general vie.1 s0ch as has a -an
on a -o0ntaintop .ith the general topographical vie. be/ore his vision1 .hence he
constr0cts a topographical s0rvey .hich he retains in his -ind; and .hen he goes do.n into
the valley1 he is enabled easily to /ill in all necessary details# This is nat0re8s -ethod1 i/ .e
-ay so spea2 o/ it; and it is .hat is called the latonic -ethod5 /irst the general1 then the
partic0lar# $n logic1 this is called the ded0ctive syste-1 as opposed to the ,ristotelian or
ind0ctive -ethod1 on .hich -odern :estern teaching is based#
&o. the Egyptians1 as .e 2no. /ro- their papyri1 ta0ght the e3istence o/ -any spheres a/ter
death1 the -any planes o/ /elicity and beatit0de and the -any planes o/ s0//ering or
p0rgation1 spheres .hich the de/0nct entity had to pass thro0gh be/ore it reached one or the
other o/ the goals o/ post-orte- li/e5 heaven or hell# The teachers o/ ancient ti-es had a
.ay1 an allegorical .ay1 o/ e3pressing the co0rse o/ li/e a/ter death1 and in this -anner 2ept
the int0ition alive and active .itho0t to0ching 0pon /orbidden -atters1 secrets or -ysteries o/
the sanct0aries# 9et 0s ta2e in this connection1 as ill0stration1 the teaching o/ the 7ithraic
religion1 .hich ca-e very close at one ti-e to o0sting co-pletely the 6hristian doctrine# The
7ithraists ta0ght the e3istence o/ seven !and nine" heavens1 each one preceded and
/ollo.ed by another one1 in/erior or s0perior1 respectively; and each one .as to be attained
by a @ladder1@ .hich .as only a graphic1 a neat1 .ay o/ spea2ing# 4/ co0rse they -eant only
that the ladder .as a representation o/ the steps1 grades1 or degrees1 .hich the so0l had to
cli-b in order to attain the goal; and the ladder .as li2e.ise a /ig0re o/ the degrees o/ the
hierarchy ? the steps1 the planes1 the spheres1 o/ .hich it is co-posed# They had also their
seven degrees o/ initiation1 based 0pon the rising scale e3istent in nat0re; and t.o other
degrees .hich .ere held as too sacred to spea2 o/ openly; and this -a2es nine degrees in
all#
Ao. abo0t the ancient Scandinavians; Ta2e the case o/ their ,i"lhei/ a .ord -eaning
@clo0dy !or -isty" d.elling place1@ @ho-e1@ or @-ansion#@ This neb0lo0s region .as the ninth1
the lo.est1 in their syste-1 and itsel/ .as co-posed o/ nine -inor .orlds or spheres# Fery
care/0l indeed .ere the .riters o/ the Eddas in the .ay they ta0ght; b0t they give 0s eno0gh
to sho. 0s the sa-e identical teachings as /o0nd else.here over the .orld# $ a- spea2ing
here -ore partic0larly o/ the rose Edda1 .hich is -ore open in its esoteric all0sions than is
the oetic Edda1 the Edda o/ verse# &o. the rose Edda tells 0s that on one side1 the
northern1 o/ the cos-ic space1 .ere cold and gloo-1 and it gives to this sphere the
na-e ,i"l/@neb0lo0s region1@ .hich is a generaliDing o/ the -eaning o/ the na-e# &i/l had
nine divisions or degrees1 b0t -ore partic0larly &i/l .as the na-e o/ the lo.est o/ the nine;
still1 the Edda gave that na-e to the entire series o/ nine spheres on the north# , -iddle
region .as the 'innungaga%1 an 4ld &orse .ord .hich can be translated perhaps as
@ya.ning abyss1@ or abyss !or gap" o/ abysses; this .as the -iddle or inter-ediate sphere#
,nd then ca-e Mu!%ellhei to the so0th1 a place o/ /ire and /la-e and .ar-th1 not
necessarily anything li2e the 6hristian hell1 /or1 as a -atter o/ /act1 it .as nearer li2e a heaven
than a hell; ele-ental or divine beings lived there1 a nat0ral tho0ght to the cold'end0ring
Scandinavians# Their hell .as cold1 and the hells o/ So0throns .ere hot ? these .ords being
-erely appropriate .ays o/ e3pressing things to be easily apprehended by the people#
:hat did the early 6hristians or the -edieval 6hristians believe as regards heaven and hell;
9et 0s choose the descriptions o/ =ante1 the great $talian poet1 /or instance1 /or he echoes the
ancient pagan teaching re-ar2ably in so-e .ays; al.ays in a distorted -anner1 it is tr0e1 b0t
yo0 can see the ancient tr0th 0nder all that he .rote# Ao. signi/icant it is that he -ade Fergil1
the great 9atin poet1 his cond0ctor thro0gh his $n/ernos1 or Aells1 and thro0gh his 0rgatory;
b0t in d0e de/erence to his 6hristian teachers and the 6hristian age in .hich he lived1 .hen
he ca-e to the Aeavens1 .hich he describes1 he has a 6hristian g0ide1 his %eatrice1 and o/
co0rse he had to /ollo. his 6hristian doctrines# =ante divides his Aells into nine circles# Ae
divides his 0rgatory into seven circles1 preceded by the ,nte'p0rgatory1 and /ollo.ed by the
Terrestrial aradise1 .hich -a2e again nine# $n each o/ these Aells1 and in each o/ these
divisions o/ 0rgatory ? places o/ p0ri/ication ? he sho.s the lo.est as the -ost terrible; the
second above it is not I0ite so /ear/0l1 and the third less so than the second; and so on 0p
thro0gh the eighteen circles or degrees o/ Aells and 0rgatory to the top-ost one o/ the
0rgatory1 .hich is scarcely1 i/ at all1 0npleasant# Finally1 =ante divides his Aeavens into
nine1 and these are topped by the E-pyrean1 the d.elling place o/ Bod and his ,ngelsK
Th0s1 there are nine Aells; seven divisions o/ 0rgatory1 .ith the ,nte'p0rgatory and the
Terrestrial aradise ? again nine; nine Aeavens; the E-pyrean5 9Q9Q9Q1R2+1 divisions o/
nonphysical li/e1 each one appropriated to p0nish certain vices or re.ard certain virt0es a/ter
death# , c0rio0sly /aith/0l1 c0rio0sly distorted1 and o/ten grotesI0e1 parody o/ the archaic
doctrine#
hapter Fi#teen
The Evol0tion o/ the @,bsol0te#@ BeneraliDed lan o/ Evol0tion on ,ll lanes#
Seven <eys to :isdo- and F0t0re $nitiations#
6ontaining all things in the one s0--it o/ his o.n hypar3is1 he hi-sel/ s0bsists .holly
beyond# ? rocl0s1 The Theolog& o" $lato/ p# 212
No0 .ill not 0nderstand it1 as .hen 0nderstanding so-e partic0lar thing# ? =a-asci0s
!6ory1 )ncient Fragent!/ p# 2+1"
Things divine are not attainable by -ortals .ho 0nderstand body1
%0t only as -any as are lightly ar-ed arrive at the s0--it# ? rocl0s1 *oentar&
on the >*rat&lu!> o" $lato
$& 4E&$&B o0r st0dy this evening .e read /irst /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page
(7)1 the /irst paragraph5
:hile the 6hristian is ta0ght that the h0-an so0l is a breath o/ Bod ? being created by
hi- /or se-piternal e3istence1 i+e+1 having a beginning1 6ut no end !and there/ore never to
be called eternal" ? the 4cc0lt teaching says1 >,othing i! created/ 6ut i! onl&
tran!"ored+ &othing can -ani/est itsel/ in this 0niverse ? /ro- a globe do.n to a vag0e1
rapid tho0ght ? that .as not in the 0niverse already; everything on the s0b>ective plane is
an eternal is; as everything on the ob>ective plane is an e4er 6ecoing ? beca0se
transitory#@
No0 .ill re-e-ber that at o0r last -eeting .e .ere obliged to con/ine o0rselves to a short
revie. o/ the s0b>ect o/ the heavens and hells as doctrinally held by vario0s e3oteric
religions; and in considering several theological or philosophical or -ythological teachings
abo0t the-1 .e had reached the vie.point o/ the -edieval 6hristian theology1 as
represented in the Di4ina *oedia o/ the great $talian poet1 =ante; and .e /o0nd in that
really noble poe- once again1 as .e /o0nd in the other syste-s that .e have -entioned1 the
.onder/0l n0-ber nine as the root'n0-ber o/ division#
:e also to0ched brie/ly 0pon the ancient Scandinavian belie/s in regard to this s0b>ect as
/o0nd in the No0nger or rose Edda1 and -erely vag0ely all0ded to the teachings therein
contained# :e also spo2e o/ the belie/s o/ the Bree2 and 9atin Stoics; and .e -ight also
have pointed o0t that in an i-portant so'called Aer-etic .or21 s0pposed to have had its
origin in Egypt1 b0t .hich has been greatly altered by later 6hristian hands ? the .or2 $ re/er
to being called The Di4ine $oeandre! ? there are seven spheres or stages o/ being spo2en
o/1 as also vag0e all0sions to an eighth1 .hile a ninth is -erely hinted at also#
&o. t0rning to ancient Breece again1 .e /ind that the great poet Ao-er1 in the eighth boo2 o/
the 0liad/ -a2es his He0s spea21 in addressing the gods and goddesses1 o/ the Bolden
6hain# He0s tells the other divinities in very -aster/0l lang0age o/ his s0pre-e po.er1 and
that i/ they all1 the gods and goddesses o/ high 4ly-p0s1 .ere to drag do.n.ard at one end
o/ that 6hain1 and he .ere to hold the other1 he He0s hi-sel/1 alone1 co0ld drag it 0p.ards
.ith all the gods and goddesses1 all the seas and the earths1 and hang that Bolden 6hain1
.ith the- all at the nether end1 to one o/ the pinnacles o/ heaven# :hat is the -eaning o/ this
c0rio0s tale; The /ollo.ing5
This Bolden 6hain represents the concatenation o/ the living hierarchies .hich .e have
st0died be/ore ? the Bolden 6hain o/ all being1 in.ard and o0t.ard# $n the sa-e address to
the asse-bly o/ the divinities o/ 4ly-p0s1 He0s spea2s as /ollo.s5 @,ny one o/ yo0 .ho
despises -y .ords and .ill1 $ shall cast do.n into gloo-y Tartar0s # # # .hich is as /ar belo.
Aades as Earth is belo. 4ly-p0s#@ This sho.s 0s so-e.hat o/ Ao-er8s representation o/
the /ra-e.or2 o/ 2os-os1 .hich .as so-e.hat as /ollo.s5 Earth1 or rather the 0niverse1 .as
represented as a sphere; 4ly-p0s .as placed at the 0pper or northern side or pole; .hat
.as called Earth .as the ne3t part belo.; belo. Earth .as Aades; and at the nether pole
/ro- 4ly-p0s .as placed Tartar0s# Ao-er1 thro0gh his He0s1 tells 0s that as /ar belo.
4ly-p0s as Earth is1 so /ar belo. Aades is Tartar0s#
The Bree2 poet Aesiod1 in his Theogon&/ beginning .ith verse 7211 also tells 0s that i/ a
braDen anvil .ere allo.ed to /all /ro- 4ly-p0s to Earth it .o0ld ta2e nine days to /all1 and
.o0ld reach the Earth on the tenth; and i/ that sa-e braDen anvil1 in contin0ing its co0rse1
.ere to /all /ro- Earth to Tartar0s1 it .o0ld again ta2e nine days to /all1 and .o0ld reach
Tartar0s on the tenth# So the 9atin poet Fergil !)eneid/ C1 (77'9" has the sa-e general idea#
:e see there/ore in Bree2 and 9atin -ystical tho0ght the sa-e principle o/ hierarchies and
scales o/ nines and tens that .e have -et .ith be/ore# The theory calls /or a contin0o0s
s0ccession o/ planes or spheres o/ being1 ranging /ro- higher to lo.er; repeated
0ninterr0ptedly thro0gho0t the range o/ any general hierarchical syste- o/ .orlds# For
instance1 beginning at Tartar0s1 there /ollo.s a ne. s0bhierarchy1 a ne. sphere1 a ne. egg1
o/ being; >0st as the 4ly-p0s o/ any one s0ch syste- is the nether pole o/ a still higher
hierarchy than itsel/# ,nd so on thro0gho0t the 0niverse#
&o. this @nine days8 /alling@ o/ Aesiod8s @braDen anvil1@ and any other si-ilar /ig0re1 is si-ply
the .ell'2no.n -ythologic .ay o/ spea2ing1 rendering in an easily 0nderstood /or- /or the
general p0blic1 .ith their sleeping -inds1 the esoteric doctrines1 the doctrines o/ occ0ltis-1
that is to say1 the /acts o/ inner being1 as those are /o0nd in all the -ystical teachings o/ all
the ancient nations#
This s0b>ect o/ the hells and heavens rests 0pon several /0nda-ental esoteric /actors .hich
.e have been st0dying contin0o0sly since these -eetings .ere ina0g0rated last Ean0ary# ,s
said at o0r last -eeting1 there are in very tr0th no hells and no heavens1 in the ordinary
6hristian sense at all# %0t there are spheres o/ retrib0tion1 spheres o/ probation1 .hich are
partic0lar spheres o/ being; and so-e o/ these hells1 as described /or instance in the
%rah-anical and in the %0ddhist religions1 are act0ally spheres o/ near'pleas0re1 rather
agreeable than other.ise; they are described as really very pleasant and interesting placesK
%0t they are still lo.er than the heavens1 so called#
:e -ight consider the description o/ so-e o/ the so'called heavens1 on the other hand1 as
not so e3ceedingly pleasant; the idea being that >0st as are the conditions a-ong -en on
earth1 so it is a-ong appropriate spheres o/ retrib0tion or probation or p0rgatorial cleansing5
.hen the co-pass o/ -an8s li/e on earth has been bro0ght to its end1 everything then -oves
according to strict analogy and according to strict gravitational attraction#,othing can go to
an& !%here or go into an& !tate "or which it i! un"it+ #4er&thing "ind! it! e@actl& a%%ro%riate
and !iilar goal/ or hoe/ or !%here+
These heavens and hells are !tate!/ o/ co0rse; so is earth li/e a state# %0t i/ a thing is a state1
it is also the state o/ a thing; and i/ it is a thing1 it -0st have place1 or position1 or locality# That
is obvio0s# So1 there/ore1 .hile these heavens and hells are states1 they are li2e.ise
localities1 places# The ancient .isdo- spea2s o/ the- in general by the Sans2rit .ord
-eaning @the three .orlds@ ? tri16hu4ana/ i#e#1 three brie/ly generaliDed abodes or -ansions
or d.elling places; as Ees0s says in the 6hristian script0res5 @$n -y Father8s ho0se are -any
-ansions#@ They are states o/ -ind /or the entities .ho d.ell therein1 and it is thro0gh these
states o/ -ind that the p0rgatorial cleansing o/ the so0l'nat0re is acco-plished#
:hy does a -an go to hell; %eca0se he want! to go to hell# :hy does a -an go to heaven;
%eca0se he de!ire! to go to heaven# , -an goeswhere4er he will! to go+ $/ d0ring his li/e he
has lived an evil e3istence1 it is beca0se the i-p0lses and attractions o/ his being .ere s0ch;
and can s0ch a so0l1 in.rapped .ith earthly attractions1 ascend into spirit0al spheres; 6an
the operations o/ spirit0al beings1 o/ the so'called higher la.s o/ nat0re1 attract a -an .hose
so0l is absorbed in heavenly aspirations into one o/ the lo.er and pain'rac2ed spheres o/
p0rgation; &ever# Thin2 o/ the -eaning involved in this tho0ght# :e -0st there/ore ta2e
.arning there/ro-1 and live in accordance there.ith# 9et 0s hear2en to these doctrines1
s0bli-e in their grande0r# Every .ord o/ the- is pregnant .ith pro/o0nd -eanings#
9et 0s go a little /arther# No0 -ay re-e-ber that so-e -onths ago .e pointed o0t that in the
ancient .isdo-1 in the ancient occ0ltis-1 there .as a teaching .hich act0ally had originated
a -odern scienti/ic doctrine1 born nevertheless in a distorted /or- o/ -aterialis-1 regarding
the operations o/ nat0re1 the so'called conservation o/ energy1 .hich is one o/ the great
pillars o/ -odern -aterialistic science; and also its t.in dog-a1 the so'called correlation o/
/orces# Those t.o scienti/ic doctrines .ere born o/ the s0pposition that there is nothing in
e3istence b0t inert1 li/eless1 so0lless -atter1 i-pelled by strange and 0n2no.n and perhaps
0ndiscoverable i-p0lses1 .hich .ere called /orces1 springing /orth in so-e 0n2no.n and
perhaps 0ndiscoverable .ay# Science is changing its vie.points in -any directions1 it is I0ite
tr0e1 b0t yet so-e -aterialistic ideas still re-ain# &o.1 in o0r ti-e1 everything is s0pposed to
be /0nda-entally /orce; -atter itsel/ is s0pposed to be /orce# The ideas1 as yo0 readily see1
still are the sa-e; the .ords alone are changing# $t is1 ho.ever1 a step ahead1 b0t .e sho0ld
not let o0rselves be carried a.ay by -ere .ords1 providing the tho0ght behind the .ords is
the sa-e and as /0lly -aterialistic as ever#
%0t there are signs that other changes also are rapidly ta2ing place in scienti/ic real-s#
:ithin three .ee2s L192*M1 the present spea2er read the report o/ an address by an e-inent
English physicist1 an honor and credit to his co0ntry1 int0itional in so-e .ays1 .ho tells 0s
.hat the latest discoveries are de-onstrating to the scientists o/ the ti-e# :hat is this ne.
light; E0st .hat .e pointed o0t so-e -onths ago as a /0nda-ental teaching o/ the ancient
occ0ltis-1 that /orce is si-ply -atter in an ethereal state; or1 to p0t it in another and a tr0er
.ay1 -atter is si-ply crystalliDed /orce1 so to say1 /orce and -atter being in essence one#
This scientist /0rther tells 0s that -odern thin2ers are no. beginning to believe that -atter is
not eternal# 4/ co0rse1 .e also believe that1 %ro4ided that 6& >atter> we ean
erel& %h&!ical atter/ the basic -aya ? or ill0sion ? o/ physical being# %0t i/ .e -ean by
@-atter@ the s0bstrat0-1 the essential !u6!tance o" 6eing1 .e di//er instantly1 /or indeed that
i! eternal+ $T is 70lapra2riti1 root's0bstance1 the gar-ent o/ arabrah-an#
,gain1 .hat do .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ arabrah-an and 70lapra2riti1 essential
conscio0sness and essential nat0re ? or essential s0bstance or @-atter@; :e -ean this5 that
arabrah-an'70lapra2riti can be /or any h0-an intellect -erely the absol0te state o/ the
hierarchy1 the highest portion1 its /lo.er1 its principle1 its root1 its seed ? that /ro- .hich the
rest evolves1 or goes o0t and beco-es the -ani/ested 0niverse .e live in and 2no. and are
a part o/# ,s a0l says in the 6hristian Bospels1 @$n hi- Lthat is1 in $t ? the Bree2 allo.s this
translationM .e live and -ove and have o0r being1@ i#e#1 .e are 0t/ in the sense o/ being
essentially a part o/ the /lo.er o/ o0r hierarchy1 the highest to u!/ /or $t is the root o/
conscio0sness o/ and in our 2os-ical 0niverse or 0niversal 2os-os1 .hich latter is all that is
co-prehended .ithin the Done o/ the 7il2y :ay1 that is1 the 0niversal 2os-os that .e 2no.
o/# The s0--it o/ it is this root /ro- .hich all these n0-berless in/erior .orlds or 0niverses
inside it have co-e /orth1 have evolved /orth; its children the solar syste-s1 the s0ns1 the
stars1 the planets ? all the living beings1 all the ato-s1 all the .orlds or 0niverses1 in short1 the
2os-os ? all co-e /orth /ro- $t# $t is the s0--it1 the /lo.er1 the ac-e1 as also the seed; it is
the absol0te ara-at-an1 s0pre-e sel/#
:hat do .e -ean by the .ord ,bsol0te; =o .e -ean Bod ? i/ yo0 li2e that .ord1 i/ yo0
really .ish to call it Bod; %0t do yo0 2no. anything abo0t Bod; =on8t .e see that the instant
in .hich .e st0lti/y o0r intellects1 cripple o0r int0ition1 li-it the soaring o/ o0r interior /ac0lties
by spea2ing o/ bo0nds1 .hether in/erred in tho0ght or .ord1 then .e reach ends and halt;
Re-e-ber al.ays in this connection1 that beyond and beyond and beyond the 2os-ical
0niverse1 beyond o0r 2en1 beyond o0r i-agination1 there is al.ays endless li/e1 endless
being1 /or there is no end any.here; and this tho0ght is .hat .as -eant in the ancient
occ0ltis- .hen its teachers spo2e o/ that @circle .hose circ0-/erence is no.here and .hose
center is every.here1@ the @bo0ndless1@ the @.itho0t bo0nds#@ This .ord ,bsol0te1 -is0sed
as it is in -odern philosophy and even a-ong o0r o.n selves1 is the e3act translation o/ the
Sans2rit u2ti1 or o2!ha/ .hich $ .ill all0de to in a -o-ent# ,bsol0te is the -odern English
/or- o/ the past participle passive o/ the 9atin .ord a6!ol4ere/ -eaning @to loosen1@ @to set
/ree1@ @to release1@ and hence @per/ected#@ &ot 0tter1 li-itless per/ection li2e the i--ortal gods
in so-e religions .ere s0pposed to have1 .hich is al.ays i-possible# %0t the relative
per/ection1 the s0--it1 the ac-e1 the /lo.er1 the root1 the seed1 o/ any hierarchy; and
partic0larly /or u! o/ that hierarchy .hich is /or u! the highest ? o0r 2os-ical 0niverse#
&o. the Sans2rit .ords u2ti or o2!ha5 the /or-er co-es /ro- the Sans2rit root uch1
-eaning @to release1@ @to set /ree1@ as said; o2!ha/ro- the Sans2rit o2!h/ .ith an al-ost
identical -eaning1 and probably a desiderative o/ the sa-e root uch# The -eaning is that
.hen a spirit1 a -onad1 or a spirit0al radical1 has so gro.n in -ani/estation that it has /irst
beco-e a -an1 and is set /ree interiorly1 in.ardly1 and /ro- a -an has beco-e a planetary
spirit or dhyan'chohan or lord o/ -editation1 and has gone still higher to beco-e interiorl& a
brah-an1 and /ro- a brah-an the arabrah-an /or its hierarchy1 then it is absol0tely
per/ected1 /ree1 released5 per/ected /or that great period o/ ti-e .hich to 0s see-s al-ost an
eternity1 so long is it1 virt0ally inco-p0table by the h0-an intellect# This is the ,bsol0te5
li-ited in co-parison .ith things still -ore i--ense1 still -ore s0bli-e; b0t1 so /ar as .e can
thin2 o/ it1 @released@ or @/reed@ /ro- the chains or bonds o/ -aterial e3istence#
:hen the great period o/ the 0niversal 2os-ic pralaya occ0rs1 and the 0niverse is indra.n
!/ollo.ing the 4riental -etaphor" into the boso- o/ arabrah-an1 .hat then happens; The
spirit0al entities then enter into their paranirvana1 .hich -eans e3actly /or the- .hat is
-eant /or 0s .hen .e spea2 o/ the death o/ the h0-an being# They are dra.n by their
spirit0al gravitational attractions into still higher hierarchies o/ being1 into still higher spirit0al
real-s1 therein still higher rising and gro.ing and learning and living; .hile the lo.er
ele-ents o/ the 2os-os1 the body o/ the 0niverse !even as does o0r physical body .hen the
change called death co-es ? death1 the t.in sister o/ li/e"1 /ollo. their o.n partic0lar
gravitational attractions5 the physical body to d0st; the vital breath to the vital breath o/ the
2os-os; d0st to d0st1 breath to breath# So .ith the other 2os-ic principles1 as .ith -an8s
principles at his decease5 the 2a-a o/ o0r nat0re to the 0niversal reservoir o/ the 2a-ic
organis-; o0r -anas into its dhyan'chohanic rest; o0r -onads into their o.n higher li/e#
Then .hen the cloc2 o/ eternity points once again /or the 2os-os to the ho0r o/ @co-ing /orth
into light@ ? .hich is @death@ /or the spirit0al being1 as death /or u! is li"e "or the inner an ?
.hen the -anvantara o/ -aterial li/e co-es aro0nd again !the period o/ spirit0al death /or the
2os-os is the -aterial li/e o/ -ani/estation"1 then in the distant abys-s o/ space and ti-e the
2os-ic li/e'centers are aro0sed into activity once -ore5 /irst the stage o/ the neb0lar /iery
clo0d; then the .hirling neb0la; then the spiral neb0la; then the ringed neb0la; then the s0n
and the planets1 and /inally the h0-an and other beings that gro. on the last; each one o/
these planets having its seven ro0nds to /0l/ill in the /orthco-ing planetary periods1 ti-e a/ter
ti-e1 d0ring endless li/e# Endless hope and e3perience lie in this -arvelo0s sche-e1 b0t
al.ays at every step on the path there is a dividing o/ the .ays /or those entities .hich have
attained -oral responsibility1 an 0p and a do.n1 /or the @-o-ent o/ choice@ is really
contin0o0s#
,t the present period .e have lived so-e.hat -ore than hal/ o/ the -aha'-anvantaric cycle;
.e are1 /or the -aha'-anvantara o/ o0r 2os-ical solar syste-1 at the point .here -atter has
already reached its 0lti-ate degree o/ develop-ent in our hierarch&+ :e have lived1
according to the ancient n0-erical teaching1 1(( trillion1 (2) odd billion solar years# 4ne hal/
o/ o0r -aha'-anvantara is gone; and there still re-ain nearly 1(( trillion1 (2) billion solar
years# 7ore acc0rately1 .e have slo.ly passed the act0al lo.est point o/ the great 0niversal
2os-ical cycle# That lo.est point1 .here -atter reached its greatest degree o/ physical
-ani/estation /or 0s1 /or o0r great .ave o/ li/e1 .as .hen the -oon had reached the -iddle
point o/ its /o0rth ro0nd1 .hich .as ages and aeons be/ore it beca-e o0r physical satellite#
The ancient teachings are that as the great arabrah-an o/ o0r hierarchical syste- has 1))
divine Nears o/ li/e to live1 each Near having 3C) =ays1 and each Near being divided into 12
7onths1 and as () divine Nears have passed1 there/ore on this planet Terra1 on this earth1 .e
have attained to or reached the /irst divine =ay o/ the /irst divine 7onth o/ the ascending
cycle o/ the second period o/ () divine Nears# :e have1 then1 co-e do.n the cycles /or the
last 1(( trillion1 (2) odd billion years1 cycling do.n1 in and thro0gh o0r hierarchy1 to the
lo.est point o/ it on the -oon; and have1 since that point .as reached ages agone1 slo.ly
and pain/0lly beg0n o0r cli-b 0p.ards again to.ards the $ne//able1 the s0--it o/ o0r
hierarchical syste-1 o0r @,bsol0te#@ lease re-e-ber very care/0lly that .e 0se this .ord
,bsol0te only in the sense and -eaning hereinbe/ore e3plained#
Ao. did the ,bsol0te beco-e the ,bsol0te; %y chance; There is no chance# There is
nothing b0t endless li/e and endless conscio0sness and endless d0ration1 .or2ing according
to the principles and ele-ents o/inherent nature1 .hich is called s.abhava in o0r Sans2rit
.or2s# The root'-eaning o/ this .ord s.abhava is @sel/'generation1 sel/'beco-ing#@7e
generate our!el4e! throughout all tie!5 give o0rselves o0r o.n bodies; cli-b o0r o.n
ladders1 step by step; see2 o0r o.n hells and /ind o0r o.n heavens# ,nd1 the .hole p0rpose1
the .hole e//ort1 o/ 0niversal evol0tion1 according to the teaching o/ this ancient .isdo-1 is
this5 raising personality into individ0ality1 s0bstance into divinity1 -atter into spirit1 grossness
into p0rity#
:hence then ca-e the ,bsol0te1 the s0pre-e sel/ or spirit1 or ara-at-an1 o/ .hich .e are
spar2s; %y gro.th /ro- .ithin o0t.ards; and /ro- .itho0t in.ards# $t .as once1 in
incalc0lable aeons gone by1 a -an# Thin2 o/ the s0bli-ity involved in this teaching; consider
the al-ost endless aeons o/ the past; and that .hat in its /ar1 /ara.ay origin .as a spar2 o/
divinity1 a spar2 o/ another and /or-er ,bsol0te1 is no. o0r @Bod1@ o0r ara-at-an1 o0r
s0pre-e sel/1 o/ .hich .e are verily the children1 and in .hich .e -ove and live and have
o0r being# :hat is the -ain lesson that .e -ay dra. /ro- this; :hat .as the psychological
-ystery hinted at by 0s in o0r last -eeting; $t is this1 and .e to0ch b0t lightly 0pon it5 o0r
h0-an so0ls are gods in e-bryo; o0r h0-an so0ls .ere /or-erly ani-al so0ls; o0r present
ani-al so0ls .ill in a /0t0re -anvantara beco-e h0-an so0ls# 40r h0-an so0ls in a /0t0re
-anvantara .ill beco-e -onads# 7an1 i/ he -a2e the -anvantaric race s0ccess/0lly1 is
destined to be the co-posite logos o/ a /orthco-ing hierarchy; as he no. in /act is1 in the
in/erior hierarchy o/ hi-sel/1 the logos o/ the I0asi'in/init0de o/ less beings co-posing his
personal nat0re# Re/lect long over this -ystery1 .onder/0l1 s0bli-eK
,re these teachings not tho0ght'co-pelling; &o .onder they have been held secret and
sacred in the ancient .isdo-# :hy; For -any reasons# First1 beca0se they could not 6e
under!tood .itho0t the necessary spirit0al and intellect0al training; and yet it is re-ar2able1 it
is tr0ly astonishing1 ho. o/ten and ho.1 in so -any .ays1 .e see all0sions to the- in the
ancient e3oteric teachings o/ the vario0s religions# Re-e-ber that @e3oteric1@ in the ancient
religions1 does not -ean @/alse#@ The .ord -erely -eans those teachings /or .hich the 2ey
has not been openly given#
$ have noticed and read in so-e o/ the translations /ro- the :elsh -ade /or 0s by o0r :elsh
scholar1 ro/essor <enneth 7orris1 teachings that $ believe to be ta2en /ro- the ancient
:elsh boo2s1 .hich have ca0sed -e to gasp in a-aDe-ent1 that these teachings o/ the
ancient .isdo-1 so sacred and occ0lt1 sho0ld have been so boldly p0t /orth by the ancient
bards in open lang0age# %0t $ loo2ed again1 and $ sa. ho. a 7aster'hand had .or2ed1
disg0ising and hiding .hile openly teaching# The arrange-ent1 the very bea0ty1 o/ the
i-agery 0sed1 -isled the too inI0iring and the too clever -ind# %0t /or hi- .ho has the 2ey1
it is easy to /ollo.# 9i2e.ise have $ /o0nd the sa-e -ethod not only in the .onder/0l 6eltic
teachings1 b0t also in the teachings o/ ancient Egypt1 and o/ other co0ntries#
,t a /or-er -eeting $ to0ched1 perhaps1 too slightly 0pon the -0ch ve3ed I0estion1 as so-e
people call it1 o/ good and evil# That is a s0b>ect .hich properly co-es at the close o/ the
st0dies concerning p0rgatory1 hells and heavens# 6hristian thin2ers have /o0nd it i-possible
to solve this proble- satis/actorily to any thin2ing and re/lective -ind# %0t tho0gh it is to the-
and others a -0ch ve3ed I0estion1 to a st0dent o/ the ancient .isdo- it is really very si-ple#
Ao. can a 6hristian .ho believes that his Bod1 that his 6reator o/ all that i!/ 4ne .ho
there/ore -0st be li2e.ise the creator o/e4il ? ho. can he reconcile this necessary
concl0sion .ith his other teachings concerning his =eity1 /or instance that Bod is all good1
and /ro- Ai- proceeds necessarily there/ore nothing b0t good; $s evil then the .or2 o/ the
=evil; :hat child .o0ld not then as21 .hence then the =evil and the evil proceeding /ro-
hi-; Fro- Bod; %0t is Bod not all good; Aence the inevitable ded0ction that Bod is either
not all'good or not all'po.er/0l# Evil .o0ld not be1 co0ld not be1 by their theory1 0nless a /r0it
o/ Bod8s .isdo-1 beca0se i/ the case .ere other.ise1 it .o0ld e3ist .itho0t the divine
per-ission1 i#e#1 contrary to Bod8s .ill1 .hich e@ h&%othe!i is i-possible1 since Bod is all'
po.er/0l# The logical di//ic0lty 0nder their theory is co-plete and 0nans.erable by it#
:hat1 then1 really is the origin o/ .hat is called good and evil; Bood and evil arise o0t o/ the
con/licting action o/ the -0lti-yriad .ills in -ani/estation# 'ood i! relati4e8 there is no
a6!olute good+ #4il i! relati4e8 there is no a6!olute e4il+ $/ good .ere absol0te1 its opposite1 its
shado.1 or nether pole1 evil1 -0st also be absol0te# %oth1 ho.ever1 are relative things# They
o//set and balance in nat0re the one the other1 li2e all other pairs o/ opposites1 s0ch as heat
and cold1 high and lo.1 day and night1 north and so0th1 etc# They arise1 as >0st said1 o0t o/
the con/lict o/ .ills1 conscio0s and 0nconscio0s# ,ll the inn0-erable1 -0ltit0dino0s beings in
-ani/estation are1 each one o/ the-1 -ore or less @sel/ish1@ -ore or less see2ing its o.n1
h0ngering and thirsting /or sensation o/ vario0s 2inds# Even spirit0al evil e3ists; and there are
high agents o/ @spirit0al .ic2edness1@ o/ .hich the 6hristian ,postle a0l has spo2en1
/or-ing the opposite agencies to the high agents o/ good# The agents o/ spirit0al .ic2edness
are called by 0s the %rothers o/ the Shado.1 and the others are called by 0s the %rothers o/
the 9ight# The %rothers o/ the Shado. .or2 in and .ith -atter1 /or -aterial and sel/ish
p0rposes# The %rothers o/ the 9ight .or2 in and .ith nat0re /or spirit1 /or i-personal
p0rposes# They contrast one .ith another#
These t.o bodies represent t.o /0nda-ental paths in nat0re1 the one the right'hand path1
the other the le/t1 and are so called in the ancient occ0ltis-# The Sans2rit na-e /or one1 the
le/t'hand path1 is %rat&e2a1&ana+ Fana -eans @ath@ or @road1@ and also @vehicle@; and .e
can translate %rat&e2a in this connection by the paraphrase @every one /or hi-sel/#@ A# #
%lavats2y1 as yo0 .ill .ell re-e-ber1 has spo2en o/ the ratye2a %0ddhas1 high and in one
sense holy beings indeed1 b0t craving spirit0al .isdo-1 spirit0al enlighten-ent1 /or
the-selves alone1 sel/ishly1 in indi//erence to the sorro. and pain o/ the .orld1 yet so p0re
.ithal that they are act0ally b0ddhas o/ a 2ind# The other body /ollo. the path .hich in
Sans2rit is called arita1&ana1 the @i--ortal vehicle@ or @path o/ i--ortality#@
The one1 the /or-er1 is the path o/ the personality; the other1 the latter1 is the path o/ the
individ0ality# The one is the path o/ -atter; the other is the path o/ spirit; the one leads
do.n.ard1 the other path loses itsel/ in the ine//able glories o/ conscio0s i--ortality in
@eternity#@
&o. these are the t.o bodies o/ entities representing the t.o sides o/ nat0re1 and the
con/licts or oppositions o/ these t.o sides o/ nat0re1 together .ith the battles o/ .ill .ith .ill1
o/ the hosts o/ beings in -ani/ested e3istence1 prod0ce the so'called evil in the .orld1 arising
o0t o/ the sel/ish activities o/ the in/erior or less developed or evolved entities# Sel/ishness1
there/ore1 is the root o/ all evil# The old teaching is tr0e1 and that is all there is to it# 4n the
highest planes o/ being1 there is neither good nor evil; there is neither li/e in o0r sense1 nor
death; there is neither beginning nor end o/ personal action o/ any 2ind# %0t there is .hat is
called in the .onder/0l ancient %rah-anical teachings1 !at/ chit/ ananda8!at -eaning @p0re
being@; chit/ @0re tho0ght@; ananda/ @bliss@; and this is the state o/ .hat one -ay call the
,bsol0te#
$n closing o0r st0dy this evening1 let 0s re-e-ber that the 2os-ic .or2 o/ the -onad1
the !%iritual radical1 is so i-portant that .e re/er to it again here# $t itsel/ can evolve only by
raising in/erior so0ls and psychological vehicles into !el"1con!ciou! entitie!/ .hich th0s in t0rn
the-selves beco-e -onads# TA$S $S TAE BE&ER,9$HE= ,&= E&T$RE 9,& 4F
EF49UT$4& 4& ,99 9,&ES# This is o0r great .or2# This is o0r high destiny# 40r s0pre-e
sel/1 o0r ara-at-an1 o0r s0pre-e -onad1 o0r highest sel/1 the s0--it o/ o0r hierarchy1 is
doing that .or2 conscio0sly; .e as sel/'conscio0s h0-ans are doing it in o0r s-aller .ay;
and this is the .hole plan o/ -ani/ested being1 the generaliDed o0tline o/ 2os-ic evol0tion1 as
said >0st no.# &o -an can live 0nto hi-sel/ alone; no -an can rise to spirit alone# $t is o/ the
very essence o/ nat0re that he -0st1 .illy'nilly1 carry .ith hi-1 0p or do.n1 inn0-erable other
entities and in/erior selves1 along the 0p.ard or the do.n.ard path#
, /e. .ords -ore on a very i-portant s0b>ect# The ancient .isdo- tells 0s that there are
seven doctrinal 2eys to .isdo- and /0t0re initiations# =0ring o0r st0dy o/ those seven 2eys
.e have brie/ly all0ded to /ive# :hat are they; These seven 2eys .e -ay call !a%ta1
ratnani/ the @seven >e.els@ or @ge-s1@ or @treas0res1@ and they are as /ollo.s# First1 that
operation o/ nat0re ? 0sing nat0re in the sense o/ the absol0te1 total aggregation o/ all that is1
inside and o0tside1 bac2.ards and /or.ards1 0p and do.n1 right and le/t1 everything1
every.here ? .hich in -an -ani/ests asrei6odient1 or reincarnation1 can be brie/ly
e3pressed as the change o/ his vehicle or body .hen his inner state or condition changes; /or
by the operations o/ nat0re he is /inally called to gravitate to.ards1 or -0st go to1 another
state or condition and place# This is called death1 b0t it is another /or- o/ li/e# There is the
/irst 2ey# ,pply it to o0r teachings in its -any and vario0s reaches#
The second 2ey is the doctrine o/ action and reaction1 called 2ara# These /irst t.o 2eys .e
have b0t brie/ly to0ched 0pon in these preparatory st0dies# $n /0t0re st0dies .e shall /ind it
necessary to go into the- -ore in detail#
The third 2ey is the doctrine o/ interpenetrating beings or e3istences1 other.ise called the
doctrine o/ hierarchies1 .hich are also inseparable and 0niversally interpenetrating planes or
spheres# #4er&thing e@i!t! in e4er&thing el!e+ There are1 in strict tr0th1 no absol0te divisions
any.here1 neither high nor lo.1 neither .ithin nor .itho0t1 neither right nor .rong1 nor 0p nor
do.n# F0nda-entally1 there is na0ght b0t an eternal $s and an eternal &o.# ,s the ancient
Stoics said so /inely1 @Everything interpenetrates everything else#@ The very at-osphere .e
breathe1 /or instance1 is vibrant and living .ith the -0ltit0dino0s lives; the -onadic essences
or lives are in the air .e breathe1 in o0r bones1 in o0r blood1 in o0r /lesh1 in everything# Thin2
o/ it1 then; let yo0r tho0ght go /ree1 release yo0rsel/ in.ardly# 9et yo0r i-agination carry yo0
into the .onders that these 2eys open 0p to o0r -inds# 6onscientio0s st0dy o/ the ancient
.isdo- and a p0re and 0nsel/ish li/e .ill be yo0r 0n/ailing g0ides#
The /o0rth 2ey is the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 the doctrine o/ the essential characteristic o/ any
entity1 o/ any spirit0al radical; the doctrine also o/ sel/'generation or sel/'beco-ing in
-ani/estation1 th0s a//ir-ing one8s responsibility in and /or onesel/# This is the -ost abstr0se1
the -ost -ystic1 o/ the /o0r 2eys1 hitherto -entioned1 /or act0ally it is the 2ey to the other
three 2eys#
The /i/th is the 2ey to sel/'conscio0s being and e3istence1 a s0b>ect to .hich .e have all0ded
this evening and also in o0r last st0dy; /or the entire ai-1 -ethod1 and operation o/ 0niversal
being is the raising o/ the in/erior to the s0perior; and this great .or2 cannot ever be achieved
by /ollo.ing the @path /or onesel/1@ the %rat&e2a1&ana/ b0t by /ollo.ing the arita1&ana/ the
@i--ortal vehicle1@ or the path o/ sel/'conscio0sness in i--ortality# 7a2e yo0r tho0ght /ree1 $
repeat; let it go o0t releasedK
,s regards the other t.o 2eys1 $ o0ght to say1 perhaps1 that they belong to high degrees o/
initiation# $ 2no. b0t very little o/ the seventh; -y st0dies have ta0ght -e very little abo0t it1
so closely is it hid# $ 2no. this1 ho.ever1 that 0nderstanding and 0se o/ this seventh 2ey can
be reached by very /e. -en on this earth# ,s regards the si3th 2ey1 .e are ta0ght that it can
be reached by great e//ort in the higher degrees o/ initiation#
This evening closes the last o/ o0r preparatory st0dies# :e shall go to higher the-es in the
/0t0re#
hapter $i&teen
,t-a'Fidya5 Ao. the 4ne %eco-es the 7any# @9ost So0ls@ and @So0lless
%eings#@ 7an1 a 6o-posite %eing5 &o ,biding rinciple in 7an#
Th0s1 there/ore1 the doctrine o/ the Egyptians concerning principles1 proceeding /ro- on
high as /ar as to the last o/ things1 begins /ro- one principle1 and descends to a -0ltit0de
.hich is governed by this one; and every .here an inde/inite nat0re is 0nder the do-inion
o/ a certain de/inite -eas0re1 and o/ the s0pre-e 0nical ca0se o/ all things# ?
$a-blich0s1 -n The M&!terie!/ section +1 3 !Tho-as Taylor1 trans#"
%0t at the close o/ the -inor cycle1 a/ter the co-pletion o/ all the seven Ro0nds1 there
a.aits u! no other -ercy b0t the c0p o/ good deeds1 o/ erit/ o0t.eighing that
o/ e4il deeds and deerit in the scales o/ Retrib0tive E0stice# %ad1 irretrievably bad -0st
be that#go that yields no -ite /ro- its /i/th rinciple1 and ha! to be annihilated1 to
disappear in the #ighth S%here+ , -ite1 as $ say1 collected /ro- the ersonal Ego s0//ices
to save hi- /ro- the dreary Fate# &ot so a/ter the co-pletion o/ the great cycle5 either a
long &irvana o/ %liss !0nconscio0s tho0gh it be in the1 and according to1 yo0r cr0de
conceptions"; a/ter .hich ? li/e as a =hyan 6hohan /or a .hole 7anvantara1 or
else >)4itchi ,ir4ana> and a 7anvantara o/ -isery and Aorror as a ?'? yo0u!t not hear
the .ord nor $ ? prono0nce or .rite it# %0t @those@ have no0ght to do .ith the -ortals .ho
pass thro0gh the seven spheres# The collecti4e <ar-a o/ a /0t0re lanetary is as lovely
as the collective <ar-a o/ a ?'? is terrible# Eno0gh# $ have said too -0ch already# ? The
Mahata <etter!/ p# 171
:E 4E& o0r st0dies1 ta2ing the- 0p tonight at the point .here .e le/t the- last s0--er1
by reading e3tracts /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 pages 2)C'+5
There are /o0r grades o/ initiation -entioned in e3oteric .or2s1 # # # Three /0rther higher
grades have to be conI0ered by the ,rhan .ho .o0ld reach the ape3 o/ the ladder o/
,rhatship# # # # The)rhat! o/ the @/ire'-ist@ o/ the 7th r0ng are b0t one re-ove /ro- the
Root'%ase o/ their Aierarchy ? the highest on Earth1 and o0r Terrestrial chain# This @Root'
%ase@ has a na-e .hich can only be translated by several co-po0nd .ords into English
? @the ever'living'h0-an'%anyan#@ This @:ondro0s %eing@ descended /ro- a @high
region1@ they say1 in the early part o/ the Third ,ge1 be/ore the separation o/ the se3es o/
the Third Race#
# # # $t .as not a Race1 this progeny# $t .as at /irst a .ondro0s %eing1 called the @$nitiator1@
and a/ter hi- a gro0p o/ se-i'divine and se-i'h0-an beings# >Set a%art> in
,rchaic gene!i! /or certain p0rposes1 they are those in .ho- are said to have incarnated
the highest =hyanis1 # # # to "or the nur!er& "or "uture huan ade%t!/ on this earth and
d0ring the present cycle# These @Sons o/ :ill and Noga@ born1 so to spea21 in an
i--ac0late .ay1 re-ained1 it is e3plained1 entirely apart /ro- the rest o/ -an2ind#
The @%E$&B@ >0st re/erred to1 .hich has to re-ain na-eless1 is theTree /ro- .hich1 in
s0bseI0ent ages1 all the great hi!toricall&2no.n Sages and Aierophants # # # have
branched o//# ,s ob>ectivean1 he is the -ysterio0s !to the pro/ane ? the ever invisible"
yet ever'present ersonage abo0t .ho- legends are ri/e in the East1 especially a-ong
the 4cc0ltists and the st0dents o/ the Sacred Science# $t is he .ho changes /or-1 yet
re-ains ever the sa-e# ,nd it is he again .ho holds spirit0al s.ay over
the initiated,depts thro0gho0t the .hole .orld# Ae is1 as said1 the @&a-eless 4ne@ .ho
has so -any na-es1 and yet .hose na-es and .hose very nat0re are 0n2no.n# Ae
is the @$nitiator1@ called the @BRE,T S,6R$F$6E#@ For1 sitting at the threshold o/ 9$BAT1
he loo2s into it /ro- .ithin the circle o/ =ar2ness1 .hich he .ill not cross; nor .ill be I0it
his post till the last day o/ this li/e'cycle# :hy does the solitary :atcher re-ain at his sel/'
chosen post; :hy does be sit by the /o0ntain o/ pri-eval :isdo-1 o/ .hich he drin2s no
longer1 as he has na0ght to learn .hich he does not 2no. ? aye1 neither on this Earth1 nor
in its heaven; %eca0se the lonely1 sore'/ooted pilgri-s on their .ay bac2 to
their hoe are never s0re to the last -o-ent o/ not losing their .ay in this li-itless desert
o/ ill0sion and -atter called Earth'9i/e# %eca0se he .o0ld /ain sho. the .ay to that region
o/ /reedo- and light1 /ro- .hich he is a vol0ntary e3ile hi-sel/1 to every prisoner .ho has
s0cceeded in liberating hi-sel/ /ro- the bonds o/ /lesh and ill0sion# %eca0se1 in short1 he
has sacri/iced hi-sel/ /or the sa2e o/ -an2ind1 tho0gh b0t a /e. Elect -ay pro/it by the
BRE,T S,6R$F$6E#
:e have here read one o/ the -ost s0bli-e passages in this .onder/0l boo2; and it is hoped
to co--ent 0pon and ill0strate1 i/ possible1 the -atters spo2en o/ in .hat .e have >0st read#
:e cannot do this altogether directly; the s0b>ect is too pro/o0nd and no s0//icient
preparatory st0dy has been -ade; b0t .e can do so indirectly to so-e e3tent# $t is necessary
to do so to so-e degree beca0se this s0bli-e s0b>ect is the seventh o/ the seven >e.els
!co0nting 0p.ards"# No0 .ill re-e-ber that these seven >e.els or ge-s or treas0res .ere
given as /ollo.s5 the /irst or lo.est is rebirth1 or rather rei-bodi-ent1 better still1 perhaps1
regeneration# $n Sans2rit it is called %unarAanan/ and in Bree2 %alingene!i!/ both .ords
representing practically the sa-e tho0ght5 the /irst ele-ent in each .ord -eaning @again@ or
@ane.1@ and the second ele-ent in each -eaning @generation@ or @birth1@ @co-ing into being#@
The second >e.el1 co0nting 0p.ards1 is the doctrine or /act in nat0re called 2ar-a1 the
doctrine o/ res0lts# The third >e.el is the doctrine o/ hierarchies1 o/ .hich the Sans2rit ter-
is lo2a!+ The /o0rth is the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 .hich .e have st0died so-e.hat in /or-er
-eetings1 this Sans2rit .ord having t.o general philosophical -eanings5 /irst1 sel/'begetting1
sel/'generation1 sel/'beco-ing1 the general idea being that there is no -erely -echanical or
so0lless activity o/ nat0re in bringing 0s into being /or we 6rought our!el4e! "orth/ in and
thro0gh and by nat0re1 o/ .hich .e are a part o/ the conscio0s /orces1 and are our
own children+The second -eaning is that each and every entity that e3ists is the res0lt o/
.hat he act0ally is in his o.n higher nat0re; he brings /orth that .hich he is in hi-sel/
interiorly1 nothing else# , partic0lar race1 /or instance1 re-ains and is that race as long as the
partic0lar race's.abhava re-ains in the racial seed and -ani/ests th0s1 and so /orth#
9i2e.ise is the case the sa-e .ith a -an1 a tree1 a star1 a god ? .hatnotK
The /i/th >e.el1 co0nting still 0p.ards1 is the doctrine o/ evol0tion1 .hich .e have already very
brie/ly st0died in the theosophical sense# This esoteric teaching is not the doctrine o/
trans/or-is-1 .hich is1 properly spea2ing1 the correct na-e /or the -aterialistic doctrine o/
=ar.in and o/ the French-an 9a-arc2 /ro- .ho-1 do0btless1 he dre. the idea# Rather it is
the theosophical idea o/ 0n/olding1 or 0n.rapping1 a doctrine ? .ith its corollary1 invol0tion ?
that is e3pressed by t.o Sans2rit .ords1 these being /irst1 %ra4ritti1 -eaning the @0n/olding
/orth@ o/ the spirit'entity into -atter1 or o/ -atter'lives into spirit'entities1 as the case -ay be;
and second1 ni4ritti1 -eaning the @in/olding@ o/ spirit'entities into -atter1 or o/ -atter'lives into
spirit'entities1 as the case -ay be#
The si3th and the seventh treas0res1 or >e.els1 .ere to0ched 0pon very slightly at one o/ o0r
recent -eetings# :e vent0re no. to add a /e. -ore ideas to .hat .as said be/ore# The si3th
>e.el is the doctrine e3pressed here also by t.o co-po0nd .ords o/ contrasted sense5
/irst arita1&ana/a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @i--ortality'vehicle1@ @carriage or bearer1 or rather
path1 o/ i--ortality1@ and re/erring to the individ0al -an; and the other .ord is %rat&e2a1
&ana/ a Sans2rit .ord -eaning !in paraphrase" the @path o/ each one /or hi-sel/#@ $t is
i-possible to translate this latter co-po0nd .ord into English by a single .ord# %oth the idea
and the vocable do not e3ist in English# $t -ay perhaps be approached by the theosophic
idea latent in the .ord %er!onalit&8 and the -ysterio0s relation o/ individ0ality to personality is
incl0ded in these t.o co-po0nd catch.ords or technical ter-s; and there/ro- hangs an
entire doctrine or depart-ent o/ tho0ght o/ the .onder/0l philosophy o/ occ0ltis-1 the esoteric
doctrine# :ith it ? as also .ith the seventh >e.el ? are connected closely the doctrines o/ the
ancient .isdo- relating to the -onads o/ the vario0s classes5 .hence they ca-e1 ho. they
ca-e1 yes1 and .hy they ca-e#
:e are to0ching 0pon all these pro/o0nd s0b>ects very lightly at present1 beca0se they .ill all
rec0r again and again in /0t0re st0dies1 and .ill in d0e co0rse be -ore /0lly ill0strated and
e3plained -ore clearly#
&o.1 the last or the seventh >e.el1 co0nting 0p.ards1 is called ata14id&a/ literally -eaning
the @2no.ledge o/ the sel/@; this co-po0nd is only a catch.ord as are the others1 b0t it
i-bodies and hides a doctrine .hich is tr0ly s0bli-e# No0 .ill re-e-ber that the present
spea2er1 in connection .ith this seventh >e.el1 stated that he 2ne. little or al-ost nothing o/
it# This phrase .as badly chosen1 and perhaps prod0ced a -isleading i-pression# $t is .ell
0nderstood that any earnest and devoted st0dent o/ the Esoteric School can 0nderstand at
least appropriate parts o/ this -ysterio0s doctrine ? so-ething at least ? the degree o/ his
apprehension thereo/ depending 0pon his inner state o/ enlighten-ent1 his /idelity to the
Teachers1 his loyalty to the principles o/ the School1 and his ability in 0nderstanding and
penetrating so-e.hat into the depth o/ its teachings#
%0t .hile this is the case .ith the st0dents1 each one according to his capacity1 others higher
than .e are can 0nderstand -ore o/ it; nat0rally1 the Teachers 0nderstand -ore o/ it than .e
do# robably1 ho.ever1 there are not ten -en today on earth .ho can 0nderstand this
doctrine in its /0llness# $t is a .onder'teaching that even the 7asters have probably not
solved 0tterly# The 7asters o/ the 7asters 2no. -ore o/ it than the latter do1 i#e#1 the
6hohans1 as they are called ? chohan/ a Tibetan .ord -eaning @lord1@ 0sed in the sense o/
preceptor1 or teacher# %0t the -ain and essential -eaning o/ this .ondro0s doctrine1 r0nning
all thro0gh it1 is this1 .hich is its 2eynote5 A4: TAE 4&E %E647ES TAE 7,&N; and this is
the -ost di//ic0lt proble- that the h0-an spirit has ever atte-pted to solve#
Ta2e as an analogy1 /or instance1 the -onad# To spea2 o/ the -onad as @descending@ into
-atter is to spea2 .rongly1 tho0gh constantly this phrase is 0sed1 beca0se it is a convenient
-ethod o/ e3pression; and i/ this /act is 0nderstood1 it is probably per-issible as a phrase#
%0t act0ally1 .hen .e co-e to st0dy the /acts1 very soon .e see and .e 2no. that the
-onad does not @descend@ into -atter# Si-ilarly1 the 4ne1 tho0gh it is appropriate and
convenient to spea2 o/ it as @beco-ing the -any1@ never beco-es -any1 re-ains eternally
itsel/1 the s0--it o/ the hierarchy1 its root'base1 .hich is this :ondro0s %eing1 the s0pre-e
$nitiator1 on .hatever plane it -ay be placed# Net the -any /lo. /orth /ro- $t; and $t is their
s0pre-e sel/1 their ara-at-an#
This1 then1 is the general the-e o/ o0r disco0rse this evening; b0t beca0se .e have no ti-e
no. to -a2e a co-plete res0-e o/ o0r st0dies d0ring the co0rse o/ last spring and .inter1
this evening .e shall go over very shortly a /e. doctrines .hich .ere to0ched 0pon in /or-er
st0dies1 /or the sa2e o/ br0shing 0p o0r recollection o/ the-# The /irst one that .e t0rn bac2
to1 then1 is the doctrine o/ s.abhava1 as contrasted in -eaning .ith the ideas involved in the
2in'e3pression1 s.abhavat# This di//erence in -eaning1 .hich is very great1 is not generally
0nderstood1 and the t.o .ords o/ten have been sadly con/0sed by st0dents# They are very
di//erent in -eaning1 tho0gh both co-e /ro- the sa-e Sans2rit root 6hu5 s.abhava;
s.abhavat# !9et -e tell yo0 here that the Sans2rit so0nd represented in English as a is
prono0nced li2e the u in 6ut or tu6; b0t .hen the a is .ritten as a or a/ it is prono0nced ah/ as
in "ather#"
,s >0st said1 these t.o .ords are both no0ns derived /ro- the sa-e Sans2rit .ord 6hu1
-eaning @to beco-e@ ? not @to be@ in the passive sense so -0ch1 b0t @to beco-e1@ to @gro.
into@ so-ething# The I0asi'prono-inal pre/i3 !wa -eans @sel/@; hence the no0n -eans @sel/'
beco-ing1@ @sel/'generation1@ @sel/'gro.ing@ into so-ething# Net the essential or /0nda-ental
or integral !el"/ as said be/ore1 does not do so# 9i2e the -onads1 li2e the 4ne1 the sel/
/0nda-ental sends do.n a ray /ro- itsel/1 as the s0n sends a ray /ro- itsel/ into the
dar2ness o/ -atter; and it is this spirit0al ray .hich @descends@ into -atter1 !el"1generating or
!el"16ecoing a !el"1con!ciou! entit& in it! turn ? the solar light1 the s0n itsel/1 re-aining ever
in its o.n integrity or en!/ never descending1 never co--ingling integrally as an entity .ith
the -0ltit0dino0s hosts o/ -atter'lives1 its o.n children#
&o. s.abhavat is called by A# # %lavats2y1 Father'7other# $t is a state or condition o/
2os-ic conscio0sness's0bstance1 .here spirit and -atter1 .hich yo0 2no.
are "undaentall& one1 no longer are d0al as in -ani/estation1 b0t one5 that .hich is neither
-ani/ested -atter1 nor -ani/ested spirit1 alone1 b0t both are the pri-eval 0nity; spirit0al
a2asa; .here -atter -erges into spirit1 and both no. being really one1 are called Father'
7other1 the spirit0aliDation1 so to say1 o/ spirit's0bstance# See ho. .e have to h0nt /or
adeI0ately e3pressive .ords in o0r .retchedly i-per/ect E0ropean lang0agesK The Sans2rit
.ord e3presses the idea1 i/ yo0 0nderstand it1 instantly#
These t.o no0ns1 then1 as yo0 see1 are /ro- the sa-e root1 and the t.o .ords are closely
connected in origin1 b0t they are not the sa-e in -eaning at all# S.abhava is the sel/'
generation o/ anything1 o/ any entity1 o/ any -onad# S.abhavat is the Father'7other1 the
2alpic a2asic spirit's0bstance1 never descending /ro- its o.n state or condition1 or /ro- its
o.n plane1 b0t the I0asi'in/inite reservoir o/ being1 o/ conscio0sness1 o/ light1 o/ li/e1 and the
so0rce o/ .hat science1 in o0r day1 so ridic0lo0sly calls the @/orces@ o/ nat0re 0niversal#
These deeply -ystical and very pro/o0nd the-es .e shall have to go into -ore /0lly in the
/0t0re; b0t /or the present it .ill s0//ice to re-e-ber that s.abhavat is 2os-ical spirit'
s0bstance1 the reservoir o/ being and o/ beings# The &orthern %0ddhists call it s.abhavat1
-ore -ystically adi16uddhi ? @pri-eval b0ddhi@; the %rah-anical script0res call it a2asa; and
the Aebre. 4ld Testa-ent re/ers to it as the 2os-ic @.aters#@
&o. the ne3t s0b>ect .hich needed a little ill0stration .as the very sole-n I0estion o/ @lost
so0ls1@ as contrasted .ith @so0lless beings#@ $t -ay be .ell to say that these three or /o0r
s0b>ects are brie/ly again to0ched 0pon this evening beca0se it has co-e to attention that
these -atters have been -ista2en by so-e o/ o0r hearers# There is an i--ense di//erence
bet.een @lost so0ls@ and @so0lless beings#@ , lost so0l is one in .ho- the @golden thread@
0niting the lo.er thin2ing entity .ith its higher sel/ is co-pletely r0pt0red1 bro2en o// /ro- its
higher essence or root1 its tr0e sel/# The case here is hopeless1 virt0ally; there can be no
-ore 0nion /or that lo.er sel/ .hich1 at the -o-ent o/ /inal r0pt0re1 co--ences sin2ing
i--ediately into the Eighth Sphere1 the so'called lanet o/ =eath# , so0lless being1 a
so0lless -an1 is one in .ho- the thread has been .orn1 so to spea21 very thin; or1 rather1
.here the spirit0al and i-personal aspirations in this li/e and in other lives have been so /e.1
the atte-pts to 0nite .ith the higher part o/ the sel/ have been so .ea21 that slo.ly the
spirit0al ray has been .ithdra.ing itsel/ /ro- the lo.er part; b0t it is not yet r0pt0red
co-pletely# $t still re-ains; and even one !ingle hol& and i%er!onal a!%iration -ay ca0se
re0nion# $t is not a lo!t so0l; b0t so /ar as the h0-an entity is practically concerned1 it is
properly called a so0lless being1 /or the entity lives al-ost .holly in his lo.er principles#
So0lless beings /0rnish those cases .hich are pop0larly spo2en o/ as @-en and
.o-en without con!cience+@ They see- to have no -oral sense1 altho0gh their -ental and
psychical /ac0lties -ay still be strong and 2een#
These are the .orst cases o/ so0lless h0-an beings# 4ther cases are those o/ -en and
.o-en .ho -erely do not see- to care /or anything that is good and bea0ti/0l and tr0e1
noble and high and lo/ty; their desires are o/ the earth1 earthly; their passions are strong and
their int0itions are .ea2# These cases are very co--on indeed; so -0ch so that A# #
%lavats2y says in her 0!i! 3n4eiled that .e @sho0lder so0lless -en@ every day o/ o0r lives#
9oo2 into the /aces o/ the -en and the .o-en .ho- yo0 see on the streets# Bo to to.n; go
any.here; the sit0ation act0ally is a terrible one# There is a /0ll possibility that a .ea2'so0led
h0-an being1 perhaps beginning -erely in giving .ay to the l0sts o/ the .ill1 and to the
passions o/ the -ind1 and to the instincts o/ the lo.er nat0re1 -ay1 little by little1 b0t inevitably
and s0rely1 starve o0t1 or .ear a.ay by attrition1 all the attach-ents o/ the higher ray .hich
bind it into the lo.er nat0re1 and .hich1 i/ they .ere /0lly strong and active1 .o0ld -a2e the
-an !or .o-an" a .al2ing god a-ong 0s; verily1 a god in the /lesh# $nstead o/ this1 in the
.orst cases o/ the so0lless being1 yo0 .o0ld have be/ore yo0 little -ore than a h0-an shell
!alive1 b0t !%irituall& alo!t deadB in the -an or the .o-an1 as the case -ay be# , so0lless
being .as once an inso0led -an or .o-an .ho1 be/ore the /or-er state1 had the sa-e
chance s0ccess/0lly to r0n the race that .e all have# This is indeed a sole-n verity1 and one
.hich A# # %lavats2y has told 0s sho0ld be ta0ght and reiterated in o0r teaching1 beca0se it
is tr0ly help/0l as a .arning# &ot one o/ 0s is absol0tely sa/e at this -id.ay stage o/ o0r
evol0tionary >o0rney; /or not one o/ 0s 2no.s .hat he is capable o/1 either /or good or ill#
There is the tr0th; and it is no tri/ling -atter# $s there any reason /or .onder that all o0r
teachers have told 0s repeatedly that every teaching that is given in the School is /o0nded
0pon .hat -en co--only call ethical principles o/ cond0ct1 and -0st be st0died in that light;
$t is the only thing that1 p0t into sincere practice1 .ill save 0s s0rely; /or these principles co-e
/irst and in the -iddle and at the end o/ o0r st0dies#
$n /0t0re st0dies .e shall have to trace to the end the destiny o/ these t.o classes o/ beings;
b0t it -ay be .ell to say a /e. .ords no. o/ the /ate o/ the lost so0l# There are t.o general
classes o/ these5 the lo.er1 b0t not the .orse; and the higher1 the .orse# $n order to -a2e
the -eaning o/ this very di//ic0lt s0b>ect -ore clear1 $ shall have to go into a ne. b0t
collateral tho0ght1 .hich is the 2ey5 an i! a co%o!ite 6eing+ 4n this /act o/ h0-an nat0re
reposes a -ost .onder/0l tr0th .hich is at the /o0ndation o/ the -arvelo0s psychological
doctrines o/ the 9ord Ba0ta-a %0ddha# $t is as /ollo.s5 there is no abiding principle
.hatsoever in @-an#@ Fi3 this li2e steel into the core o/ yo0r -inds# $t .ill save yo0 /ro-
-yriad dangers i/ rightly 0nderstood# @7an@ is not his higher nat0re; @-an@ is that .hich is
called the @h0-an nat0re#@ =o yo0 realiDe ho. greatly -en and .o-en live in .hat the
Aebre.s call the nephesh1 i#e#1 live in their astral so0ls; To a certain e3tent s0ch 0nison .ith
o0r lo.er principles is necessary; b0t to /ollo. the bea0ti/0l old si-ile o/ the ancient
philosophers1 the astral so0l sho0ld be o0r vehicle1 o0r bearer; so to say1 it sho0ld be -ade a
horse to carry 0s on o0r >o0rney; or1 to change the /ig0re1 a chariot in .hich .e sho0ld ride; a
horse .hich .e -0st drive# :e1 the inner sel/1 sho0ld govern and drive o0r astral steed1 b0t
sho0ld never allo. it to control 0s#
$n order to -a2e this -ore clear1 e3a-ine /ollo.ing diagra-5
No0 .ill notice that -an8s seven principles and ele-ents are divided into three separate
parts5 a lo.est triad1 p0rely -ortal and perishable; an inter-ediate d0ad1 psychical1
co-posite1 and -ostly -ortal1 2a-a'-anas1 the @-an@ proper1 or @h0-an nat0re@; and a
higher d0ad1 at-a'b0ddhi1 i--ortal1 i-perishable1 the -onad# ,t the death o/ the h0-an
being1 this higher d0ad carries a.ay .ith it all the spirit0al essence1 the aro-a1 o/ the lo.er
or inter-ediate d0ad; and then the higher d0ad is the higher sel/1 the reincarnating
individ0ality1 or egoic -onad# 7an8s ordinary conscio0sness in li/e at this stage o/ evol0tion is
al-ost .holly in the lo.er or inter-ediate d0ad; .hen he raises his conscio0sness to
beco-e one .ith the higher d0ad1 he beco-es a 7ahat-a1 a 7aster#
&o. this lo.er part o/ the nat0re is co-posite# There is nothing per-anent per se in it
.hatever; as an entity1 nothing abides# $t is ordinary -an as he is today1 and in hi- there is
no abiding !el"1%rinci%le.hatsoever# $/ yo0 /asten yo0r tho0ghts and yo0r a//ections to the
things o/ the lo.er nat0re1 yo0 .ill de /acto1 o/ necessity1 /ollo. it1 and 6ecoe it1 as o0tlined
and sho.n in and by the doctrine o/ s.abhava# )! a an thin2!/ !o i! heJ The Aebre. .ords
in this old saying1 .hich is ta2en /ro- roverbs1 chapter 231 verse 71 are Englished5 @,s he
thin2eth in his heart !ne%he!h"1 so is he1@ b0t the Aebre. .ord nephesh 0sed here really
-eans @,s he thin2s in his lower nature/ that he i! D6ecoe!B+@ , Sans2rit co--entator1
Nas2a D,iru2ta/ 1)1 17"1 in his glossary on a certain Fedic te3t1 has the /ollo.ing re-ar21
e3actly to the point on the sa-e s0b>ect5 Fad &ad ru%a 2aa&ate de4ata/ tat tad de4ata
6ha4ati ? @:hatever body !or /or-1 or shape" a divine being !divinity" longs /or !.ants1
desires1 i#e#1 gives hi-sel/ 0p to"1 that very thing the divine being beco-es#@ Aere is the
secret o/ the .hole thing# :e are what we a2e our!el4e!/ o0r o.n children# &othing b0t
that# ,nd1 i/ o0r tho0ghts are 0p.ards1 .e co-e /inally into the co-panionship o/ the
divinities; and1 be/ore reaching the-1 co-e into the co-panionship o/ the holy Teachers1
beca0se we a2e our!el4e! !uch/ we 6ecoe li2e the; and they1 in t0rn1 ans.er the call#
%0t i/1 on the contrary1 o0r tho0ghts are r0nning do.n.ards1 and .e .ear a.ay the silver
thread or the golden thread .hich binds 0s to o0r higher nat0re1 .e then nat0rally gravitate or
go do.n.ards5 do.n1 do.n1 do.n1 0ntil at last the /inal r0pt0re o/ the golden chain or thread
co-es1 and the so0l beco-es a lost so0l1 a lost astral so0l; and its destiny is as /ollo.s#
There are t.o classes o/ this 2ind o/ so0l1 as re-ar2ed be/ore# The /irst class is the lo.er b0t
not the .orse; it consists o/ those h0-an beings on this planet !or on any other planet .hich
possesses a h0-anity si-ilar to o0rs" .ho1 thro0gh native .ea2nesses o/ so0l and /ro- lac2
o/ spirit0al attraction 0p.ards1 go to pieces a/ter a certain interval o/ ti-e1 long or !hort a!
the ca!e a& 6e5 the lo.er part o/ the nat0re1 being co-posite and i-per-anent and
nonend0ring1 /ollo.ing nat0ral la.s /inally si-ply brea2s 0p and vanishes -0ch as the
h0-an body dies and decays# That is the end o/ it; it is /inally annihilated#
The -onad o/ s0ch a so0l1 -ean.hile1 there being nothing1 no aro-a o/ aspiration or
yearning 0p.ards1 to ta2e a.ay /ro- that li/e or /ro- those lives ? beca0se1 -ind yo01 it is
per/ectly tr0e that lost so0ls as .ell as so0l'beings can reincarnate; they can indeed; there
are children born lost so0ls; as a /act it is very rare1 perhaps1 b0t the /act can and does ta2e
place ? the -onad1 $ say1 o/ s0ch a lost so0l1 in d0e co0rse o/ ti-e @reincarnates@ again; and
the lost so0l episode is li2e a blan2 page in its @boo2 o/ lives#@
The second class1 and the .orse by /ar1 are those in .hich the so0l is vitally strong# They are
those .ho are !%irituall& evil1 parado3ical as it -ay so0nd; those .hich the 6hristian teachers
have spo2en o/ in the &e. Testa-ent as beings o/ spirit0al .ic2edness and iniI0ity# 4ne
-ay .onder ho. it can co-e to pass that a being .hich has r0pt0red the golden thread can
still have spirit0al I0alities or parts# That is one o/ the dar2 and sole-n -ysteries .hich .e
-ay have to go into in -ore detail later# :e have no ti-e this evening to do so1 beyond
pointing o0t that the e3planation lies in an 0nderstanding o/ esoteric psychology1 and o/ the
nat0re o/ high astral -atter# %0t let -e point o0t this5 i/ a so0l can receive an i-press1 can
receive an i-p0lse1 and it -ost certainly does1 that i-press or i-p0lse .ill carry it on 0ntil its
initial strength is e3ha0sted1 0ntil the i-p0lse no longer e3ists1 0ntil the i-p0lse has .or2ed
itsel/ o0t# Thro0gh -any1 -any1 lives o/ spirit0al evildoing1 these beings .ho have
event0ated as lost so0ls have b0ilt 0p thro0gh the intensity o/ their .ill a ban2 acco0nt1 so to
spea21 o/ certain /orces o/ nat0re1 i-p0lses o/ evil1 o/ p0re -atter1 r0nning hot and strong#
,nd .hen $ say hot $ do not -ean in the ordinary e-otional sense1 as .hen one spea2s o/
the @heat o/ passion#@ ,ll s0ch passion is dead# &ay1 b0t r0nning hot li2e the /ires o/ hell5
revenge1 hatred1 and antagonis- to anything that is highly good or nobly bea0ti/0l1 and all
s0ch things# These i-p0lses here e3ist1 and they have a spirit0al so0rce1 /or the& are
degraded !%iritual energie!/ spirit /allen and crystalliDed into -atter1 so to spea2# Fery di//ic0lt
to e3plain1 indeed1 is this abstr0se s0b>ect; b0t this is the gist o/ it# 9astly1 $ -ight add that
these beings can !and do"1 0nder certain conditions1 go /ar lo.er5 they enter the lo.er path1
and go still /arther do.n; and i/ the evil be strong eno0gh in certain rare cases1 their terrible
destiny is .hat the Teachers have called an avichi'nirvana !avichi being a generaliDed ter-
/or .hat is pop0larly called hell"1 aeons o/ 0nspea2able -isery1 sel/'i-posed1 0ntil /inal
dissol0tion ens0es ? and nat0re 2no.s the- no -ore#
4/ co0rse yo0 re-e-ber that .e have st0died the s0b>ect o/ hells and heavens1 b0t as yet
.e have had no ti-e to go into this -atter at length# ,vichi is a generaliDed ter- /or places o/
evil realiDations !b0t not o/ p0nish-ent in the 6hristian sense"1 .here the .ill /or evil1 and the
0nsatis/ied evil longings /or p0re sel/ishness1 /ind their chance /or e3pansion ? and /inal
e3tinction o/ the entity itsel/# ,vichi has -any degrees1 or grades# &at0re has all things in her;
i/ she has heavens .here good -en and tr0e -en /ind rest and peace and bliss1 so has she
other spheres and states1 .here go or gravitate those .ho -0st /ind an o0tlet /or the evil
passions b0rning .ithin# They1 at the end o/ their avichi'nirvana1 go to pieces and are gro0nd
over and over1 and vanish a.ay /inally li2e a shado. be/ore the s0nlight in the air ? gro0nd
over in nat0re8s laboratory#
&o. yo0 re-e-ber it .as pointed o0t in other st0dies that in o0r esoteric teachings there are
no @la.s@ o/ nat0re1 and this /or t.o reasons5 /irst1 beca0se there is no s0ch thing as @nat0re#@
&at0re is not an entity; it is an abstraction# &at0re is not a goddess or a god; it is not a being
or a planet; it is not a sphere or a 0niverse# &at0re is the abstract aggregate1 so to spea21 the
i--ense aggregate1 o/ all beings and things1 interblending and acting and interacting 0pon
each other5 spirit0al1 inter-ediate1 and lo.er; and their interblending and interconnection
prod0ce .hat .e call nat0re# The beings here re/erred to1 o/ co0rse1 are o/ all grades1 /ro-
the -ost -aterial1 the -ost degraded1 0p to the highest1 o/ any hierarchy# ,nd the second
reason is that these aggregated beings that .e call very conveniently by the ter- o/ nat0re
are not @r0led@ by @la.#@ :ho or .hat -a2es any la.s that nat0re shall or -0st /ollo. or does
/ollo.; &o one1 neither devil nor god# %0t the I0ery -ay and o0ght to arise5 does not nat0re
/ollo. certain co0rses1 and .hen the circ0-stances and conditions are identical1 are not
those co0rses al.ays the sa-e1 .hich are .hat .e call law!? 4/ co0rse1 yes; nobody denies
a /act# :e deny the e3planation# E3planations are i-portant# $/ a -an co-es to yo0 and says
so-ething to yo0 and yo0 /ind that he is -erely tal2ing1 giving yo0 .ords .hen yo0 .ant the
bread o/ li/e1 are yo0 going to ta2e .hat he says /or tr0th; ,re yo0 going to ta2e the .ords
only1 and be satis/ied .ith h0s2s; 4r are yo0 going to thin21 and say5 @7y dear sir1 $ have
loo2ed into .hat yo0 tell -e; .hat yo0 say is -erely .ords; nobody denies the /acts that are1
b0t $ .ant an e3planation o/ those .ords and o/ those /acts# $ .ant so-ething that .ill /eed
-y so0l#@ =o yo0 get any /ood /or yo0r so0l .hen yo0 hear -ere tal2 abo0t -echanical1
inco-prehensible la.s o/ nat0re; =o yo0 realiDe that no great thin2er in antiI0ity at any ti-e
ever 0sed s0ch e-pty lang0age as la.s o/ nat0re .ith the conco-itant ideas ? or lac2 o/
ideas; &ever# The e3pression containing the notion @la.s o/ nat0re@ is a -odern prod0ct
derived /ro- t.o so0rces5 /irst /ro- the 6hristian religion; and second /ro- -odern scienti/ic
-aterialis-# 7en1 d0ring all the ages1 have been /0lly a.are that nat0re p0rs0ed certain very
reg0lar co0rses1 -odernly called la.s1 and al.ays /ollo.ed the sa-e co0rses; b0t o0r
/orebears had other and .iser e3planations o/ these reg0lar co0rses in nat0ral pheno-ena1
/or they 2ne. -ore o/ the inner -ysteries o/ being1 beca0se they had tr0e religion behind
and .ithin the-selves; they had a 0niversal philosophy; and last b0t not least they had .hat
.ere called initiates .ho personally co0ld go behind and into nat0re1 enter into her and 2no.
her at /irst hand#
&o. .hat ca0ses nat0re to act as she does; The -odern scientist .ill tell yo0 that he -eans
by the la.s o/ nat0re those seI0ences o/ events .hich al.ays happen in the sa-e .ay
.hen the circ0-stances and conditions are the sa-e; the reg0lar order o/ pheno-ena and
/orces# The 6hristian theologian tells yo0 .hat he -eans by the la.s o/ nat0re probably
so-e.hat as /ollo.s5 @:ell1 brother1 it is probably the :ill o/ Bod ,l-ighty .ho1 it is tr0e1 has
not vo0chsa/ed to 0s a /0ll e3planation o/ these di//ic0lt proble-s; b0t it is /0nda-entally the
=ivine :ill .hich has once and /or all ti-e created the -achine o/ nat0re and has set it to
r0nning#@ ,bo0t t.o or /ive or si3 h0ndred years ago these gentle-en had another
e3planation1 so-e.hat di//erent /ro- the above1 beca0se -odern science had not yet beg0n
to be aggressively vocal .ith vie.s or a vie. o/ its o.n; and this other theological
e3planation .as that it .as Bod ,l-ighty Ai-sel/ .ho personally and actively g0ided and
ordered these things .hich nat0re prod0ces# @Ae sent his rain 0pon the >0st and the 0n>0st;
Ae ca0sed the s0n to shine1 and the rain to /all1@ and -0ch -ore to the sa-e t0ne# %0t then
ca-e along certain s2eptical thin2ers and they said1 @Aa1 ha1 Bod the 6reatorK Then Ae
created diseases; Ae creates the evils in -en8s hearts# $t -0st be so1 not other.ise1 beca0se
Ae created -an and all things else and1 being all'.ise1 Ae -0st have 2no.n .hat Ae .as
doing# There/ore1 .hy p0nish a -an /or doing .hat he cannot avoid doing1 beca0se Bod
created -an and his -ind and his heart and his .ill;@
So the theologians8 later idea1 apparently1 .as that Bod -an0/act0red the .orld .ith Ais o.n
,l-ighty Aand1 and set it to spinning1 and set the vario0s ele-ents thereo/ each to r0nning in
its o.n .ay1 and let it go /orth .ith a pri-al i-press o/ the =ivine $ntelligence 0pon it#
$ thin2 that $ a- I0oting correctly the early -odern theological idea#
&o. the initiates1 2no.ing nat0re8s arcana1 had .ords /itted to e3press e3actly .hat they
desired to say; .ords .hich are i-pressive and .hich are not -ere abstractions1 altho0gh
.hen convenient they too 0sed abstractions; they 0sed s0ch .ords as principles and
ele-ents o/ nat0re# $t is I0ite tr0e that s0ch .ords are catch.ords1 technical .ords; b0t they
2ne. precisely .hat they -eant by the-# They also spo2e -ystically and theologically o/ the
@gods#@ $t is one o/ the -ost la-entable things /or scholars today1 that o.ing to the deliberate
and .ill/0l s0ppression by the 6hristian 6h0rch o/ so -any o/ the tr0ths o/ antiI0ity1 the
average scholar or st0dent has no -ore idea o/ .hat the ancients -eant by the gods and
their actions than he has o/ .hat is ta2ing place at this -o-ent on the star Siri0s# Net1 .hen
0nderstood and properly e3plained1 polytheis- is seen to be a .onder/0l and a s0bli-e
teaching# $t does not -ean1 /or instance1 that each god is as great and as single as1 or
o-nipotent and o-niscient li2e1 the 6hristian theological notion o/ their Bod# &ot at all# The
gods1 i#e#1 spirit0al entities1 are the higher inhabitants o/ nat0re# They are an intrinsic part o/
nat0re itsel/1 /or they are its in/or-ing principles; they are as -0ch s0b>ect to the will! o/ still
higher beings ? call these .ills the la.s o/ higher beings1 i/ yo0 .ill ? as .e are1 and as are
the ani-als belo. 0s# :e are gods to the beings co-posing o0r bodies# The ato-s in o0r
body are1 in their .ay1 conscio0s1 and .e are li2e gods to the-# ,nd .hat they -ight call the
la.s o/ nat0re are what we thin2 and what we will+ &at0re is conscio0s /ro- beginning to
end1 in varying degrees; altho0gh in reality there is no beginning and no end1 .hich are vain
drea-s#
F0rther-ore1 nat0re has t.o aspects1 a positive aspect and a negative aspect# lease
0nderstand that $ a- 0sing the .ord nat0re1 .ith the -eaning pointed o0t be/ore1 beca0se
the ordinary e3pression is convenient1 the ter- is 0nderstood# $/ a spea2er has to spend
so-e three -in0tes or -ore in order to e3plain each ti-e ane. an already e3plained 0se o/
a .ord1 he .ill never arrive at the end o/ .hat he .ishes to say; so1 once having -ade an
e3planation o/ .hat .e -ean by nat0re and la.s1 .e -ay 0se these or other co--on .ords
beca0se they are convenient# A# # %lavats2y also constantly spea2s o/ the la.s o/ nat0re1
and the /0nda-ental la. o/ 2ar-a; so again does <atherine Tingley constantly spea2 o/ the
higher la.# :ho has not heard highly ed0cated people say that the s0n @rises in the east@;
4/ co0rse they and .e 2no. that the s0n does not rise in the east# 7en very /reI0ently /ind it
0se/0l and convenient to 0se ordinary lang0age in order intelligently to voice a tho0ght# %0t
this does not -ean that they sho0ld be held to rigid literal acco0nt /or .hat every sane -an
sho0ld 2no. per/ectly .ell is -erely a convenient -ode o/ e3pression#
The so'called la.s o/ nat0re1 there/ore1 are the action and interaction and inter%la& o"
con!ciou!ne!!e! and will! ? in the 2os-os ? not so -0ch considered as personaliDed
conscio0snesses and .ills1 b0t by 0s those .ords are 0sed -ore as abstractions1 -eaning
the co-bined and aggregate action'res0lts o/ all conscio0snesses and .ills in the 2os-os#
Net act0ally1 .hen traced to cau!e!/ to their so0rces1 these la.s are the conscio0snesses
and .ills in action o/ the -0lti-yriad hosts o/ beings thatco%o!e and are >nature>
it!el"/ .or2ing thro0gh1 in1 and by1 @-atter1@ their vehicles ? abstractly called nat0re# &at0re
has these t.o poles or sides5 the positive pole or side and the negative pole or side# E3a-ine
yo0rsel/ closely1 and yo0 .ill /ind that even yo0r -ind is d0al1 li2e everything else1 /or it
-irrors nat0re# $t has its passive side1 its 0nconscio0s re/le3es1 >0st as the body has1 >0st as
nat0re has# $t has also its positive or active side# There is a great di//erence bet.een the
conscio0s .ill and the 0nconscio0s .ill# Ta2e the body as an instance o/ .hat $ a- trying to
say; e#g#1 the beating o/ the heart1 the a0to-atic .in2ing o/ the eyes1 the processes o/
digestion# These are 0nconscio0sly per/or-ed acts1 0nder the control o/ 0nconscio0s or
se-iconscio0s ele-ental entities; .hen nor-ally /0nctioning1 -an8s .ill has nothing sel/'
conscio0sly to do .ith the-# They represent the passive side o/ his .ill as e3pressed thro0gh
those ele-ental -inds# %0t he also has an active or positive side in .hich he .ills and thin2s1
and acts accordingly1 and /or these latter things he is held responsible1 he inc0rs 2ar-ic
responsibility#
So is it e3actly the sa-e in nat0re1 as is ill0strated by this e3a-ple o/ the passive and active
.ills in -an8s o.n -ind and body# The la.s o/ physical nat0re are the action'res0lts o/ the
passive side o/ the beings and conscio0snesses .ho and .hich co-pose .hat is called
nat0re; and the higher tho!e 6eing! are/ the le!! i! their acti4e or %o!iti4e !ide ani"e!t on
the lo.er planes#
:or2 there/ore .ith nat0re1 and not against her; violate none o/ her la.s1 i/ yo0 desire health
and happiness# Re-e-ber .hat A# # %lavats2y says in The :oice o" the Silence ? let 0s
paraphrase it5 .or2 .ith nat0re and /ollo. her; beco-e one .ith her1 and she .ill -a2e
obeisance 0nto yo0 as an active1 !el"1con!ciou! co'.or2er ? a -aster# Aappiness can be
/o0nd only in obedience to this /0nda-ental tr0th o/ inseparable 0nity# There is no happiness
in 0nbrotherhood1 in acting solely /or yo0rsel/1 in trying to i-pose yo0r personal .ill on
others# 0t i! 6& gi4ing that li/e is /o0nd in all its bea0ty1 by giving the sel/ to the ,ll# There is no
happiness li2e it; there is no .ay /or inner develop-ent to co-e so I0ic2ly and so s0rely and
so sa/ely to the st0dent as that .hich lies in giving 0p the personal sel/ to nobly i-personal
ai-s# $t is the .ay to peace and po.er#
9et 0s occ0py the /e. -ore -in0tes o/ ti-e that .e have in re/erring to an interesting
pheno-enon o/ nat0re that too2 place d0ring this last s0--er# $ re/er to the near approach o/
the planet 7ars to Earth; and $ spea2 o/ this .ith intent1 beca0se it is going to ill0strate a
point in the s0bstance o/ o0r the-e#
No0 .ill do0btless have heard ho. o0r scientists have concl0ded ? they say that their theory
is tr0e1 b0t it is absol0tely /alse according to theosophy ? that the planet 7ars is older than
the Earth; and the sole reason /or their saying this is beca0se .hen they e3a-ine .hat they
can see o/ the s0r/ace o/ 7ars thro0gh their telescopes1 they see no sign1 certain and
convincing to all1 o/ even vegetable li/e# ,pparently1 they see no partic0lar organic activity o/
any 2ind on that r0ddy sphere; and they at once >0-p to the concl0sion that 7ars is dead1 in
a state so-ething li2e that o/ the -oon1 and that there/ore it is very -0ch older than o0r
planet Earth# $n the /irst place1 to the st0dent o/ the ancient .isdo-1 the @age@ o/ a planet -ay
be o/ t.o 2inds# =oes it -ean older in !%iritual e@%erience? beca0se1 re-e-ber1 a planet is
an @ani-al@ in the Breco'9atin sense1 and @ani-al@ -eans @living being1@ /or it is a hierarchy
o/ lives ? or does it -erely -ean that the physical sphere is older than o0rs;
&o. the teaching o/ the ancient .isdo- is that 7ars is &ounger than the Earth# $ts body1 its
physical sphere1 is yo0nger; b0t1 at the present ti-e1 it is in a state o/ @obsc0ration#@ $t is .hat
.e -ay call asleep; it is -ore than -erely asleep1 act0ally1 /or the vastly larger part o/ its
hosts o/ lives1 o/ its living entities1 have le/t it in order to go to higher spheres or globes o/ the
7artian planetary chain# %0t this again does not ean ? one has to be very care/0l in the 0se
o/ e3pressions in o0r st0dies ? that there is no li"eon 7ars# :hen o0r o.n physical body is
asleep1 does it -ean that it is in decay1 that it is dead; ,re there no vital processes going on
in the sleeping h0-an body; 4/ co0rse there are1 -any5 rec0peration1 rein/orcing o/ the
bonds o/ the inner nat0re; not o/ the inner nat0re itsel/1 b0t there is the strengthening o/ the
bonds connecting the vital astral entity .ith it#
There are ? and this .ill ill0strate another point ? on the planet 7ars in its present state o/
obsc0ration certain beings le/t there by the receding li/e'.ave o/ 7ars .hen that planet .ent
into obsc0ration; and these beings are called in the Sans2rit lang0age !i!hta!/ -eaning
@re-ainders@ or @re-ains1@ i#e#1 those .hose d0ty it is to 2eep the seeds o/ li/e on that planet
0ntil the inco-ing /lo. o/ the ret0rning li/e'.ave in the ne. -anvantara to co-e shall /ind
these bodies ready /or the- and in all .ays appropriate# &o. these sishtas are o/ seven
2inds5 three ele-ental; the -ineral; the @plant@; the @beast@'type there1 .hich represented the
h0-an on 7ars; and one other# There are certain ones o/ these sishtas .hich are not at all o/
the lo.er types; they u!t ha4e 6een higher than the average o/ its h0-anity .hen that
planet .ent into obsc0ration1 in order to provide /or the -ore evolved h0-anity co-ing do.n
on its s0cceeding ro0nd /it and appropriate vehicles /or the ne. li/e cycle1 or -anvantara1
there# Benerally1 then1 the sishtas are those s0perior classes ? each o/ its o.n 2ind and
2ingdo- ? le/t behind on a planet .hen it goes into obsc0ration1 in order to serve as
the !eed! o" li"e /or the in/lo. o/ the ne3t inco-ing li/e'.ave .hen the da.n o/ the ne.
-anvantara ta2es place on that planet#
Fen0s1 on the contrary1 is no. actively engaged in its last ro0nd# The planet 7erc0ry1 on the
other hand1 is >0st beginning its last ro0nd# %oth these planets are /ar older than the Earth#
7ars is yo0nger ? $ a- not here tal2ing o/ the !%iritual age8 $ a- tal2ing only o/ the age o/ the
physical body1 the sphere# No0 .ill /ind it generally the la. !and $ a- 0sing this ter- la.1
re-e-ber1 beca0se it is convenient"1 yo0 .ill /ind it1 generally spea2ing1 a physical /act o/
nat0re in o0r solar syste- that the /arther a sphere !or planet" is /ro- the s0n1
the %h&!icall& yo0nger it is# 7ars1 as a -atter o/ /act1 has ended its third ro0nd# :e o/ the
Earth are in o0r /o0rth; Fen0s is in its seventh and last; and 7erc0ry is >0st beginning its
seventh#
$ have bro0ght 0p this -atter1 beca0se there are so-e .ho have -is0nderstood A# #
%lavats2y8s teaching in The Secret Doctrineregarding the si3 co-panion'globes o/ the
planetary earth'chain1 saying that .e ca-e to Earth /ro- the planet 7ars .hich is th0s -ade
one o/ the globes o/ the planetary earth'chain; that .e are no. on Earth; and that .e shall in
the /0t0re !ne3t" -anvantara go to 7erc0ry1 .hich is also -ade one o/ the planetary earth'
chain#
This is 0tterly .rong# ,s .e have >0st said1 7erc0ry is in its !e4enthro0nd; .e are in
o0r "ourth1 and o0r ne3t ro0nd .ill be o0r /i/th# $t is tr0e that 7ars has ended its third ro0nd;
b0t .hile the planets /arther /ro- the s0n generally are the yo0nger1 physically1 than those
nearer it1 this doesnot ean that the& are nece!!aril& the &ounger !%irituall&+ For instance1
yo0 -ay ta2e the planet Sat0rn# The planet Sat0rn1 spirit0ally1 is /arther advanced than is the
planet 7ars1 or than is o0r planet Terra#
$/ yo0 ta2e 0p a boo2 o/ astrono-y and co-pare the varying density o/ the planets as there
given in the tables1 yo0 .ill have a ro0gh'and'ready1 and very generally acc0rate1 r0le by
.hich to go in order to /ind o0t .hich o/ the physical planets are %h&!icall& older than others#
%0t then this does not re/er to spirit0al age or evol0tion; and this /act sho.s the co-ple3ity
that con/ronts the st0dent in his st0dy o/ these doctrines1 .hich really are very si-ple1 b0t
see- co-ple3 to 0s beca0se o0r -inds are -atter'-inds and not spirit'-inds# $t is di//ic0lt to
thin2 abo0t s0ch things .ith the -inds .e have1 beca0se they are -atter'b0ilt# They go to
pieces at o0r death; and these s0b>ects are based on spirit0al /acts# Aence the con/0sion
0nder .hich 7r# Sinnett and others .ho /ollo.ed his lead have labored ? even to the e3tent
o/ denying their o.n teachersK
The planet Sat0rn is s0rro0nded .ith belts and ? $ a- in very deep .ater here and $ .ish to
spea2 slo.ly so as not to give a -ista2en i-pression ? the planet Sat0rn is the last1 co0nting
o0t.ards /ro- the s0n1 o/ the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients# ,s regards o0r solar
syste-1 Uran0s and &ept0ne1 certainly not the latter1 really do not belong to it# ,ct0ally1
physically1 they do1 beca0se they are 0nder that syste-8s in/l0ence1 so-e.hat li2e visitors
entertained in a ho-e; b0t they do not belong to or /or- a part o/ the septenary o/ the seven
sacred planets o/ antiI0ity o/ .hich yo0 all do0btless have read# Those seven sacred
planets%ro4i!ionall& -ay be na-ed as /ollo.s5 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1
and 7oon# $ say provisionally1 beca0se there is -0ch -ore behind this -atter o/ the seven
sacred planets than appears openly# For instance1 the s0n and the -oon are rec2oned in the
above list as two !u6!titute! /or the t.o real planets; and 7ars ? to a certain e3tent ? is in the
sa-e category# :e can say no -ore o/ this here#
Shall .e say that the s0n and -oon re%re!ent t.o other planets; 9et 0s ta2e provisionally
the list as 0s0ally given1 incl0ding the s0n and the -oon5 each one o/ these seven globes is a
body li2e o0r o.n earth in that each is a septenary chain1 seven/old in co-position ? si3
other s0perior globes o/ /iner -atter above the physical sphere or globe1 >0st as .e h0-ans
have o0r si3 principles above this bearer or carrier -iscalled a principle1 .hich .e call o0r
body# This does not apply in toto to the -oon1 beca0se the -oon is dead; yet even the -oon
has its si3 co-panion'globes# The -ysteries concerning the -oon1 $ -ay re-ar2 in passing1
are -ore than interesting1 and .e shall so-eti-e go into the- as /ar as .e can properly do
so; b0t e3cepting the -oons1 all the other globes and planets o/ the solar syste- have1 each
one1 si3 co-panion'globes o/ /iner -atter1 all /0lly alive1 0nless in obsc0ration; and in the
planetary li/e these /or- a pec0liar analogy .ith -an8s seven principles1 /or i/ .e co0ld see
o0r o.n principles1 co0ld see .hat the plan o/ each principle is1 .e sho0ld /ind that it is an
act0al r0pa or /or-# Net let -e here enter a caveat5 the si3 co-panion'globes o/ any planet
or other sidereal body are not1 really1 the si3 principles o/ s0ch a body1 "or each one o" the!e
!e4en glo6e! "oring %art o" a chain ha! it! own indi4idual !e4en %rinci%le! and eleent!#
So each planet or sidereal body has its si3 co-panion'globes1 /or-ing together a planetary
chain1 and onl& tho!e glo6e! which are onthe !ae 2o!ic %lane o/ nat0re or being are
physically visible to each other# For instance1 .e can see only the /o0rth !planetary" plane
globes o/ each o/ the other planetary or sidereal chains1 beca0se .e are on the /o0rth
planetary plane1 as they are# $/ .e .ere on the 2os-ic plane above 0s1 .e sho0ld see t.o
E0piters1 t.o Sat0rns1 and so /orth#
The s0n also is septenary1 as said >0st no.# , .onder/0l teaching lies here in that
connection# The -oon1 dead as it is1 has also si3 co-panion'globes; and .hen .e leave this
earth in obsc0ration at the close o/ this earth'ro0nd1 and go to the globe above this1 .e shall
see then the t.o l0nar bodies belonging to that plane1 and also t.o s0ns#
:e no. close o0r evening8s st0dy1 and e3press the hope that at the ne3t -eeting .e shall
have -ore opport0nity and a clearer /ield to go at so-e length into the tr0ly s0bli-e s0b>ect
.hich A# # %lavats2y has set do.n /or 0s in The Secret Doctrine in the e3tracts /irst read this
evening#
hapter $eventeen
The Silent :atcher#
For co0ntless generations hath the adept b0ilded a /ane o/ i-perishable roc2s1 a giant8s
To.er o/ $&F$&$TE TA4UBAT1 .herein the Titan d.elt1 and .ill yet1 i/ need be1 d.ell
alone1 e-erging /ro- it b0t at the end o/ every cycle1 to invite the elect o/ -an2ind to co'
operate .ith hi- and help in his t0rn enlighten s0perstitio0s -an# ,nd .e .ill go on in
that periodical .or2 o/ o0rs; .e .ill not allo. o0rselves to be ba//led in o0r philanthropic
atte-pts 0ntil that day .hen the /o0ndations o/ a ne. continent o/ tho0ght are so /ir-ly
b0ilt that no a-o0nt o/ opposition and ignorant -alice g0ided by the %rethren o/ the
Shado. .ill be /o0nd to prevail#
%0t 0ntil that day o/ /inal tri0-ph so-eone has to be sacri/iced ? tho0gh .e accept b0t
vol0ntary victi-s# The 0ngrate/0l tas2 did lay her LA##%#M lo. and desolate in the r0ins o/
-isery1 -isapprehension1 and isolation5 b0t she .ill have her re.ard in the herea/ter /or
.e never .ere 0ngrate/0l# ,s regards the ,dept ? not one o" & 2ind/ good /riend1 b0t /ar
higher ? yo0 -ight have closed yo0r boo2 .ith those lines o/ Tennyson8s @:a2e/0l
=rea-er@ ? yo0 2ne. hi- not ?
@Ao. co0ld ye 2no. hi-; Ne .ere yet .ithin O The narro.er circle5 he had .ellnigh
reached O The last1 .hich .ith a region o/ .hite /la-e1 O 0re .itho0t heat1 into a larger air
O Upb0rning1 and an ether o/ blac2 bl0e1 O $nvesteth and ingirds all other lives# # # #@ ?The
Mahata <etter!/ p# (1
:E 4E& o0r st0dy by reading a part o/ the passages o/ The Secret Doctrine that .ere read
at o0r last -eeting1 that is to say1 /ro- vol0-e $1 pages 2)7 and 2)+5
The )rhat! o/ the @/ire'-ist@ o/ the 7th r0ng are b0t one re-ove /ro- the Root'%ase o/
their Aierarchy ? the highest on Earth1 and o0r Terrestrial chain# This @Root'%ase@ has a
na-e .hich can only be translated by several co-po0nd .ords into English ? @the ever'
living'h0-an'%anyan#@ This @:ondro0s %eing@ descended /ro- a @high region1@ they say1
in the early part o/ the Third ,ge1 be/ore the separation o/ the se3es o/ the Third Race#
,nd then .e read the last paragraph on page 2)+5
$t is 0nder the direct1 silent g0idance o/ this 7,A, ? !great" ? BURU that all the other less
divine Teachers and instr0ctors o/ -an2ind beca-e1 /ro- the /irst a.a2ening o/ h0-an
conscio0sness1 the g0ides o/ early A0-anity# $t is thro0gh these @Sons o/ Bod@ that in/ant
h0-anity got its /irst notions o/ all the arts and sciences1 as .ell as o/ spirit0al 2no.ledge;
and it is they .ho have laid the /irst /o0ndation'stone o/ those ancient civiliDations that
p0DDle so sorely o0r -odern generation o/ st0dents and scholars#
,s .e noted at o0r last -eeting1 .e are approaching a part o/ o0r st0dies .here1 to 0se the
.ords o/ the old thin2ers1 .e /eel al-ost that .e sho0ld re-ove o0r /ootgear1 beca0se .e
stand on holy gro0nd# These s0bli-e passages contain1 in /act1 the o0tline o/ the -eaning o/
the seventh o/ the seven >e.els or treas0res o/ .isdo-1 .hich has the technical na-e
o/ata14id&a# This phrase literally signi/ies @sel/'2no.ledge#@
&o. this Sans2rit .ord atan is e3ceedingly di//ic0lt to translate1 b0t the English .ord @sel/@
see-s to co-e nearest to an adeI0ate rendering o/ it# ,t-a'vidya -eans -0ch -ore than
ordinarily .e -ight 0nderstand by the .ords @2no.ledge o/ the sel/@; yet1 .ere .e to 2no.
the sel/ in its /0llness1 .e sho0ld 2no. all 2no.ledge that it is possible /or -an to 2no.#
Aence1 that technical na-e is given to it as descriptive o/ the entire branch o/ the esoteric
philosophy .hich this seventh >e.el contains# ,s it is1 .e can 2no. only parts o/ this branch
o/ the esoteric philosophy# :e are told that it is hinted in the ancient .ritings1 partic0larly in
the Sans2rit1 that even the -ost spirit0al beings on earth in this o0r age 2no. not /0lly all that
is contained in this treas0re# There are possibly not a doDen thin2ing beings on earth today1
.ho o/ co0rse .o0ld co-prise the very highest and holiest -en that the earth has bro0ght
/orth 0p to the present period o/ evol0tion1 .ho can in any sense /0lly 0nderstand it# %0t .e
can have and 0nderstand appropriate parts o/ this s0bli-e .isdo-'-ystery; and it is these
that .e are going to atte-pt to el0cidate to the best o/ o0r capacity this evening#
:e stated at o0r last -eeting that this seventh treas0re or >e.el can be considered as a
st0dy o/ the proble- o/ ho. the 4ne beco-es the -any; b0t it .as also said that1 as a
-atter o/ /act1 the 4ne essentially never beco-es the -any# 4ne -ight as .ell say that the
s0n .hich gives 0s o0r light co-es do.n to earth in order to do it; b0t it does not# $t sends o0t
its rays1 e-anations /ro- itsel/1 .hich ill0-inate1 vitaliDe1 and I0ic2en o0r .orld o/ -atter;
and si-ilar is the case .ith the 4ne#
F0rther1 .hat do .e -ean by the 4ne; 4bvio0sly1 .e do not -ean the personal Bod o/ any
e3oteric theology# &o -atter ho. great1 ho. vast in co-pass spirit0ally1 .e -ay consider
this 4ne to be1 it is still a 0nity1 a being1 and there/ore it is /inite# There/ore1 in order to
el0cidate o0r proble-1 .e t0rn to another one o/ these seven treas0res1 and .e /ind an
ill0stration o/ this partic0lar branch o/ o0r proble- in the lo2as ? a technical .ord /or
hierarchies1 as is also 6rahanda/ or @egg o/ %rah-a@ ? o/ .hich the 4ne is the root'base i/
.e consider it as the origin o/ all the beings and things in that hierarchy; or the /lo.er or
s0--it or ac-e i/ .e consider it as the ai- and end o/ o0r evol0tion# This1 there/ore1 is the
4ne# %0t there are other 4nes1 4nes inn0-erable1 in the 2os-ical 0niverse; so-e higher
than o0r highest1 or lo.er than o0r lo.est degree#
No0 do0btless re-e-ber that in st0dying the doctrine o/ hierarchies .e sho.ed that these
hierarchies are endless in n0-ber# They the-selves1 each one o/ the-1 can be considered
as a 0nit; and there are -any above 0s and -any belo. 0s5 inn0-erable ones above 0s and
inn0-erable ones belo. 0s; inn0-erable ones .ithin and inn0-erable ones .itho0t o0r
2os-ical hierarchy# They are endless in n0-ber in all directions# Fro- this 4ne
o/ our hierarchy1 ho.ever1 and .e -ean in this instance the 0niversal 2os-os or the
2os-ical 0niverse1 co-es all o0r li/e1 all o0r being1 all that .e are .itho0t and .ithin# $t is the
so0rce and origin o/ everything that .e can be and 2no.1 .or2ing in and 0pon that
bac2gro0nd o/ the %o0ndless .hich co-prises the li-itless aggregate o/ all other hierarchies
.hatsoever#
The -ost e3tended1 the vastest1 and the -ost i--ense hierarchy o/ o0r 0n/ettered
i-agination is b0t as a -ote o/ d0st1 as a single ato-1 in co-parison .ith the %o0ndless# The
%o0ndless cannot ever or in any sense be considered as one/ as a -ere 0nity# -ne i-plies
the /inite1 the beginning o/ co-p0tation or en0-eration; and .e -0st thin2 o/ the %o0ndless
as a Dero1 signi/ying endless and li-itless in/init0de1 .ith no I0ali/ications .hatsoever that
belong to all that is -ani/ested or li-ited; and1 on the other side o/ the ill0stration1 signi/ying
the all'enco-passing1 endless1 bo0ndless F0llness o/ the ,ll# This is Space1 .hich is either
the 0nli-ited F0llness o/ the ,ll1 or the 0nli-ited E-ptiness o/ the ,ll1 according as .e vie.
it# The latter vie. is the pro/o0ndly spirit0al s0nyata o/ the %0ddhist philosopher#
9et 0s t0rn /or a -o-ent to another 2indred s0b>ect# Aave .e ever considered and pondered
over the -eaning o/ the .ord iuta6le .hen people 0se it as so-eti-es happens .hen
spea2ing o/ s0ch s0b>ects as Space1 the %o0ndless1 etc#; Aas it ever occ0rred to 0s to try to
realiDe that i/ the %o0ndless .ere i--0table even /or the -in0test /raction o/ a second1 the
entire /abric o/ 0niversal 2os-ical being .o0ld vanish a.ay in the t.in2ling o/ an eye1 li2e a
shado. on a .allK ,ll that .e can 2no. or -entally /ig0rate o/ so li-itlessly vast a s0b>ect as
the %o0ndless1 is s0ch tho0ghts as .e vag0ely e3press in .ords or phrases li2e @bo0ndless
li/e1@ .hich is otion5 endless and beginningless activity# $--0tability is a phanto- o/ the
i-agination1 a -ere re/lection in o0r -inds o/ /inite pa0se# There is ceaseless -otion1
ceaseless and endless and beginningless li/e in the horiDonless /ields o/ the %o0ndless#
%0t .hen .e consider the 4ne1 the s0--it1 or the root'base o/ o0r o.n hierarchy ? or o/ any
other hierarchy ? .e can by spirit0al int0itions grasp the tr0th concerning it; b0t i/ .e go
beyond that hierarchy1 going 0p step by step /ro- lo.er to higher spheres1 .e shall al.ays1
.e -0st al.ays1 reach a point .here o0r 0nderstanding and i-agination /all po.erless
be/ore the i--ensity o/ the !to u!" non0nderstandable1 beca0se .e can in no.ise
enco-pass or co-prehend it; only can .e see that in $t and /ro- $t is the in/inite li/e1 .hich in
it! cea!ele!! unending otion is i--0tably the sa-e al.ays# -nl& in thi! %arado@ical !en!e
i! the word iuta6le %eri!!i6le+ So -0ch1 then1 /or the %o0ndless# %0t as regards the
4ne1 it is analogically i--0table onl& "or it! own %eriod o" acti4it& a! !ource o" a hierarch&/
and onl& "or tho!e 6elow it8 and hence yo0 .ill /ind o0r boo2s occasionally spea2ing o/ the
@i--0table la.1@ that .hich /or the @seven eternities@ d0ring .hich o0r period o/ -ani/estation
end0res @varies not1 and 2no.s no shado. o/ t0rning#@ ,nd .hy; %eca0se that highest
s0--it1 that 4ne1 is the s0pre-e Silent :atcher1 the s0pre-e 9i/e'giver1 the great s0pre-e
Sacri/ice1 to 0se A# # %lavats2y8s ter-s1 o/ o0r o.n great 2os-ic hierarchy1 .hich is the
highest that o0r i-agination can attain to# %0t do not con/0se thi! s0pre-e Silent :atcher
.ith the Silent :atcher o/ the less hierarchy o/ the Teachers#
:hen o0r hierarchy goes into pralaya ? .hich -eans the release o/ its entirety o/ lives and
li/e /or higher and spirit0al things o/ greater val0e and o/ nobler co-pass than those .e no.
have or can even conceive o/ ? .hen that happens1 $ say1 it is b0t as the passing1 as it .ere1
o/ a clo0d hitherto over the @/ace o/ the %o0ndless1@ and hosts o/ other 0niverses are then
co-ing eI0ally into -ani/ested li/e as o0rs .ill then be passing o0t o/ it /or its pralayic rest#
Try and /or- so-e si-ple concept o/ the -eaning o/ endless and beginningless eternity and
o/ the %o0ndless1 and drop it there5 0nceasing li/e1 endless activity1 never'ending li/e and
conscio0sness in 0nceasing -otion every.here# $t is only @parts@ ? .hich1 as co-pared .ith
the totality .hich is the %o0ndless1 are as nothing ? only s0ch parts1 so to say1 this1 that1 or
another part .hich1 in its -aya o/ -ani/ested li/e and 0n-ani/ested repose1 alternately is
active or passive1 .hich passes a.ay and then ret0rns again# The .ise ancients never
bothered their heads -0ch abo0t any /oolish atte-pt to /atho- the %o0ndless or the li-itless
Eternal# They recogniDed the reality o/ being1 and let it go at that1 2no.ing .ell that an ever'
gro.ing 2no.ledge o/ the 0niversal li/e .as and is all that h0-an intelligence co0ld ever
attain to by an ever'e3panding conscio0sness#
This alternate appearing and disappearing o/ .orlds or hierarchies is the teaching i-bodied
in the /irst o/ the seven >e.els or treas0res o/ .isdo-# ,s the h0-an spirit sends do.n its ray
and reincarnates by -eans o/ that ray into a h0-an being o/ astral -atter and o/ -ind'-atter
and o/ /lesh1 so si-ilarly1 .hen the ti-e co-es /or a hierarchy to rei-body itsel/1 to 0nderta2e
its tas2 ane. o/ palingenesis or repeated sel/'generation1 the sa-e relative co0rse is r0n#
&ever let 0s /orget the ancient a3io- o/ the esoteric .isdo- .hich the Aer-etists so
bea0ti/0lly e3pressed5 )! a6o4e/ !o 6elow+ :hat happens in heaven is -irrored on
earth1 utati! utandi!# 7an8s palingenesis1 as a -icrocos-1 is b0t a /aith/0l copy o/ the
palingenesis o/ .orlds1 o/ his o.n 2os-ic hierarchy as the -acrocos-#
9et 0s no. t0rn to o0r -ain the-e /or tonight# ,s the s0--it o/ o0r hierarchy is 4ne1 the root
o/ o0r en!/ in .hich .e -ove and live and have o0r being1 as the 6hristian ,postle a0l p0ts
it; !o !iilarl& in the !%iritual1%!&chological hierarch& there i! a -ne in who we are all
rooted/ in who %!&chologicall& and &!ticall& and religiou!l&/ &ea and a!%irationall&/ we
li4e+ This 4ne is the Breat $nitiator1 the Breat Sacri/ice1 the :ondro0s %eing re/erred to by A#
# %lavats2y; the s0pre-e Aead o/ the hierarchy o/ the Teachers# Fro- it originally co-e o0r
noblest i-p0lses thro0gh o0r o.n higher selves; /ro- it co-e the li/e and aspiration .e /eel1
stirring o/t in o0r -inds and hearts; /ro- it1 thro0gh o0r higher nat0res1 co-e the 0rge to
better-ent1 the sense o/ loyalty and troth1 all the things .hich -a2e li/e holy and bright and
high and .ell .orth living#
$t .as d0ring the third race o/ h0-anity o/ this /o0rth ro0nd on this globe1 .hen the incarnate
ray in each o/ the 0nits o/ the then -an2ind had evolved /orth its vehicle !by generating
"ro within it!el" this vehicle1 /it /or the e3pression o/ itsel/1 o/ the divine spirit .ithin"; and
then that vehicle1 or so0l1 .as beco-e sel/'conscio0s# Then1 as ti-e passed1 there ca-e a
period .hen an interpreter1 a g0ide1 a teacher1 o/ the race o/ -an2ind .as needed1 beca0se
the race .as rapidly sin2ing .ith every s0bcycle o/ the Breat ,ge -ore totally into -atter and
conseI0ent ill0sion and spirit0al de/ile-ent1 /or s0ch is prod0ced by the evolving o/ -atter#
The dhyan'chohans1 the lords o/ -editation1 .ho .ere -en /ro- a /or-er great period o/
activity o/ o0r planet Terra1 beings /ro- a /or-er -anvantara1 .ere then leaving or
.ithdra.ing /ro- this earth# They had already done their cyclical .or21 done all they co0ld1 in
in/or-ing1 inspiring1 and ill0-inating the then -an2ind; b0t they no. needed s0ccessors
-ore li2e the sin2ing -en o/ the period# %y reason o/ a -ystery .hich .e cannot el0cidate
here1 the noblest representatives o/ the then h0-anity beca-e the direct and .illing vehicles
o/ sel/'conscio0s rays /ro- these dhyan'chohans1 lords o/ -editation# $t .as not e@actl& .hat
is called in %rah-anis- an a4atara ? a @descent@ .hich -eans
the o4er!hadowingincarnation o/ a %ortion o/ a high spirit in a high h0-an being; b0t it .as
the act0al indwelling !/0lly conscio0s on both sides1 and relatively co-plete" o/ a portion o/
the essence o/ a dhyan'chohan in a /0lly conscio0s1 .illing1 and 0tterly sel/'sacri/icing1 -an
o/ high degree# &o.1 please -ar2 .ell5 the highest one o/ these incarnations1 the noblest
-an'/r0it o/ h0-an evol0tion prod0ced 0p to that ti-e1 6ecae the head o" thi! !%iritual1
%!&chological hierarch& literall&/ and in very tr0th1 in his case1 .as a -an in/illed .ith a
dhyan'chohan5 .hat -ight act0ally be called an incarnate god# This .as ? and still i! ? the
Silent :atcher1 the $nitiator1 the :ondro0s %eing1 the Breat Sacri/ice ? @sacri/ice@ /or a
reason .hich $ e3plain else.here#
a0se a -o-ent# 9et 0s thin2 a.ay /or a -o-ent /ro- the thread o/ o0r the-e# 9et 0s
consider the i--ense hope1 the pro/o0nd intellect0al splendor1 and the spirit0al bea0ty .hich
.e /ind in these teachings# They are .ell .orth thin2ing over1 indeedK $/ anything1 theosophy1
the esoteric .isdo-1 is a vast doctrine o/ hope1 not o/ -ere opti-is- as the .ord is ordinarily
0nderstood1 b0t a doctrine o/ vitaliDing hope and interior ill0-ination# There1 in these .onder'
teachings1 is the path along .hich .e -ay ascend# 7ore partic0larly1 it depends on o0rselves
.hether o0r ascent along the stair.ay o/ that ray .hich is living and .or2ing in each one o/
0s is achieved or not; and ? pray listen care/0lly ? .hether or not .e ascend by o0r
being con!ciou!l& lin2ed thro0gh that %eing .ith the Aighest# That %eing1 that :ondro0s
%eing1 does not @co-e do.n@ and @descend@ into 0s1 beca0se /or it this .o0ld be poll0tion o/
a sort not to be tolerated; yet .e are lin2ed .ith it by and thro0gh the ray .ithin 0s# ,s the
s0n sends /orth inn0-erable rays1 yet re-ains ever the s0n1 so thro0gh this %eing po0rs1 as
the root'base o/ o0r spirit0al'psychological hierarchy1 a ray .hich is instinct and alive in every
nor-al child that co-es into the .orld#
&o. it depends 0pon 0s .hether .e /ollo. along that ray 0p.ards or1 as pointed o0t at o0r
last -eeting1 abandon o0r divine birthright1 and /ollo. the l0re o/ chaos and the it ? respond
to the e3halations /ro- @hell#@ There are people1 perhaps1 .ho -ay not have 0nderstood the
-eaning o/ the .ord annihilation as .e 0se it# 9et 0s 0nderstand that annihilation1 strictly
spea2ing1 e3e-pli/ies .hat <atherine Tingley calls the @in/inite -ercy o/ the higher la.#@
There is no s0ch night-are as @eternal s0//ering#@ Those h0-an beings .ho have /or/eited
their divine birthright go to pieces; they lose their %er!onal entity; b0t .hen that has
happened1 there re-ains b0t an e-pty psychic shell# :hen .e lay o0r body do.n at death
and it goes to pieces and its ato-s are ret0rned to the earth .hich gave it birth1 is there
anything very dread/0l in that; Ta2e the sa-e r0le and apply it to the case o/ the lost so0ls1
o/ .hich .e .ere spea2ing at a /or-er -eeting#
$/ anyone desires to get a -asterly o0tline o/ this s0b>ect1 let hi- t0rn toThe Ke& to
Theo!o%h&/ pages 92'3 and 113'1*1 and he .ill there /ind .hat A# # %lavats2y tells her
readers o/ annihilation1 and -ore partic0larly in connection .ith the %0ddhist teaching as
ta0ght by the 9ord Ba0ta-a the %0ddha# :hy $ say the @9ord@ %0ddha .ill be e3plained in a
-o-ent#
This :ondro0s %eing is the 6hie/1 the 7aster'$nitiate1 the Aead and 9eader o/ the spirit0al'
psychological hierarchy o/ .hich the 7asters /or- a part# Ae is the @ever'living'h0-an'
%anyan@ Tree /ro- .hich they hang as leaves and /r0its1 spirit0ally spea2ing# So also do .e1
spirit0ally spea2ing# 4n every globe1 on every -an'bearing planet o/ every s0n in the
in/init0des o/ space1 .e are ta0ght that1 as /ar as great spirit0al seers 2no.1 the sa-e thing
e3ists there# There is over each one a 7aster'Teacher1 and in each case he -erits the ter-
.hich A# # %lavats2y gives hi-1 ta2ing it /ro- her o.n Teachers1 o/ the @BRE,T
S,6R$F$6E#@ :hy is he so called; %eca0se1 /ro- bo0ndless co-passion /or those lo.er in
the scale o/ evol0tion than he is1 he has reno0nced all hope and opport0nity in this
-anvantara o/ hi-sel/ going higher1 o0t o/ this sorro.'laden .orld1 and re-ains behind
a-ong 0s as o0r great $nspirer and Teacher# Ae hi-sel/ can learn nothing -ore o/ this
hierarchy1 /or all 2no.ledge pertaining to it or possible in it is his already# Ae
has !acri"icedhi-sel/ /or all belo. hi-#
There are so-e people .ho tal2 o/ sacri/ice o/ that sort as i/ it .ere so-ething gr0eso-e or
evilK :hy1 is there anything -ore s0bli-ely bea0ti/0l than the giving o/ sel/ in noble service to
others ? to all; $s there anything .hich act0ally can lead -an higher; $s there anything .hich
opens the heart -ore; $s there anything .hich opens -ore the doors o/ inspiration; ,nd1 on
the other hand1 is there anything .hich -ore I0ic2ly closes these doors1 or -ore /0lly
belittles -an1 .hich -ore I0ic2ly shrivels the sel/1 than does its opposite5 personality1
sel/ishness1 egois-; ,y1 there is a >oy1 an 0nspea2able >oy1 in sel/'sacri/ice o/ this high 2ind#
The :ondro0s %eing is technically called the Breat Sacri/ice beca0se1 having reached the
pinnacle o/ evol0tion in this o0r hierarchy1 he can learn nothing -ore in or /ro- that
hierarchy# Ae has deliberately reno0nced /0rther progress /or hi-sel/ in o0r -anvantara1 and
this tr0ly is the greatest o/ sacri/ices; and he has reno0nced it in order to live /or those less
beings .ho are .eary1 and .ho st0-ble on the 0p.ard .ay; /ollo.ing the dictates inherent in
that noble cry5 @Ao. can $ live in heaven .hen one single being on earth -0st s0//er;@ :e
are re-inded o/ the old story o/ the Scots-an .ho1 .hen told by his =o-inie that his dog
co0ld not go to heaven .ith hi-1 ans.ered instantly5 @4h1 =o-inie1 i/ -y dog cannot go to
heaven .ith -e1 then shall $ stay here on earth .ith -y /aith/0l dog; /or he never .o0ld
abandon eJ> That is a to0ch o/ the sa-e spirit o/ devotion#
$n the great $ndian epic1 the Maha6harata/ .e /ind a closely si-ilar tale o/ one o/ the great
heroes o/ that .or2 .ho1 having -et .ith severe trials o/ -any 2inds on his .ay to !warga or
heaven1 s0ccess/0lly passed the- all; b0t .hen he /inally reached the con/ines o/ heaven he
.as -et by the devas1 .ho told hi-5 @%rother1 yo0r /aith/0l dog enters not here#@ ,nd he said5
@4h1 then shall $ go bac2 .ith -y dog1 -y /aith/0l co-panion .ho loved -e and .ho has
/ollo.ed -e every.here# Shall $ abandon hi- and leave hi- o0tside;@ ,nd the devas1
according to the bea0ti/0l legend1 then opened .ide the gates o/ heaven1 and the heavenly
choristers began to sing a paean o/ .elco-e and praise to the /aith/0l hero'heart1 .ho .o0ld
have reno0nced his o.n 0nspea2able bliss /or the sa2e o/ a loving and /aith/0l creat0re less
evolved than he#
This is the spirit o/ ren0nciation o/ sel/ /or others1 as e3e-pli/ied in legend and story# $s there
anything -ore bea0ti/0l than it;
&o. let 0s go a step /arther# 9et 0s leave o0r the-e /or a /e. -o-ents and ta2e 0p again a
-atter .hich .e /eel .as not /0lly 0nderstood1 perhaps1 d0e to o0r ins0//icient e3position o/ it
at o0r last -eeting# :e spo2e then o/ there being t.o classes o/ lost so0ls# That is I0ite
correct# %0t .e -0st also point o0t that there are li2e.ise t.o s0bdivisions in the second o/
these t.o classes1 and these t.o s0bdivisions o/ the second class are those .ho /0lly -erit
the old 6hristian ter- @.or2ers o/ spirit0al iniI0ity#@ The /irst s0bdivision co-prises those .ho
are co--only called conscio0s sorcerers; and the second co-prises the sa-e type o/
beings b0t incl0des those .ho have reached s0ch a point o/ inner po.er1 yea1 o/e4il spirit0al
strength1 that they are able even to de/eat nat0re8s call to dissol0tion /or the entire ter- o/ the
-anvantara# They -erit tr0ly the old -ystic saying1 @.or2ers o/ spirit0al evil#@
$n order to -a2e this di//ic0lt s0b>ect so-e.hat clearer1 cons0lt and re/lect over the s0b>oined
diagra-1 .hich gives a brie/ o0tline o/ the vario0s conscio0snesses in a hierarchy5
The entire syste- hangs li2e a chain /ro- the pri-eval seed1 the root'base o/ the hierarchy#
The /irst s0bdivision co-prises those .ho are annihilated .hen this globe goes into its
obsc0ration# %0t to the second s0bdivision belong they .ho are al-ost h0-an incarnations
o/ .hat the Tibetans called the lhaa&in8or so-eti-es they -ay even be overshado.ed by
the ao1chohan!.hich preside at the pralayas# These last1 ho.ever1 are not e3actly
@devils@ or evil entities1 b0t rather beings .hose destiny it is /or the ti-e in vie. to carry on
the .or2 o/ destr0ction1 o/ desolation# ,s regards the higher spirit0al sorcerers and .or2ers
o/ evil1 the second s0bdivision1 their /inal destiny is tr0ly terrible1 /or there a.aits the- at the
close o/ the -anvantara the avichi'nirvana1 the absol0te contrast and nether pole o/ the
nirvana o/ spirit; and then a -anvantara o/ 0nparalleled -isery# They are the polar opposites
o/ the dhyan'chohans# Final and 0tter annihilation is their end# &at0re is bipolar; and as is the
action1 so is the reaction#
&o. annihilation1 as it is 0sed in the esoteric philosophy1 does not -ean .hat people
co--only i-agine it to be# $t -eans the brea2ing 0p1 the dissol0tion1 o/ a personal entity1 b0t
never o/ the i--ortal individ0ality1 .hich is i-possible# :e spea21 and spea2 correctly1 o/ the
dissol0tion or the annihilation o/ an ar-y1 or o/ the annihilation o/ a /loc2 o/ sheep# :hen the
separate entities are gone1 2illed1 or .hatever it -ay be1 the "loc2 o/ sheep is no -ore1
the "loc2 is dissolved# $t is annihilated as a /loc21 as an entity# ,nd si-ilarly1 annihilation in its
psychological sense does not -ean that it is the i--ortal spirit .hich is annihilated# That
idea is per/ectly l0dicro0s# ,n i--ortal spirit cannot be annihilated# $ts residence1 its d.elling
place1 is in/inite space; and its ti-e is eternity# %0t as o0r body dissolves1 is annihilated as a
body1 is resolved and dissolved into its co-ponent ele-ents1 so .ith the lost so0l .hich is at
/irst a -ere psychic shell1 .hen the i-p0lses .hich ca-e to it in the ti-e .hen it .as lin2ed
.ith an incarnate spirit have spent their /orce; then its ter- co-es1 it is dissolved1 it is
annihilated1 it ceases1 it passes o0t o/ being# There is nothing le/t o/ it1 /or li2e a dead physical
body it is resolved into its co-ponent ele-ents# %0t in the /irst stages it beco-es spirit0ally
dead1 tho0gh -entally alive# $t is a psychic corpse1 /ro- .hich the i--ortal ele-ent has /led#
That is .hat a lost so0l is#
St0dents o/ the esoteric philosophy 2no. .hat happens to the 2a-a'r0pa o/ a -an a/ter the
death o/ the physical body# $t is /inally dissolved1 or annihilated# $t is in nat0re8s co0rse that it
-0st be so# $ tell yo0 that .hen .e spo2e at o0r last -eeting o/ the ancient .isdo-'
teachings o/ the 9ord %0ddha1 to the e//ect that there is @no abiding principle in -an@ ? 0sing
the .ords o/ Rhys =avids1 the e-inent :elsh scholar1 .ho is a bright literary honor to his
co0ntry despite the -ista2es that he -a2es in -is0nderstanding -0ch o/ the inner sense o/
the %0ddhist teaching ? .e -ean si-ply this5 that the onl& a6iding thing in anE! nature i!
"ro and in hi! higher !el"1 his higher nat0re# Ais body; his vital /orce; his astral do0ble1 the
linga'saira; the 2a-ic principle; the -anas; all these pass a.ay at death# &othing o/ an
abiding principle in the co-bination o/ these /ive; yet .hile these /ive co-ponent parts o/
-an8s psychology hang together in physical li/e1 they /or- the @-an#@ $s there any one o/ yo0
so egoistic as to thin2 that this poor being o/ clay no. spea2ing be/ore yo0 is the i--ortal
spirit; 4r the li/e .hich in/or-s it; 4r this poor -ind o/ -atter1 .hich $ a- 0sing as an
instr0-ent .here.ith to spea2 to yo0; &oK
The tho0ght >0st e3pressed is co--only s0pposed ? and rightly s0pposed ? to be a %0ddhist
teaching; it is also the teaching o/ the ancient .isdo-; it .as li2e.ise the teaching o/ the
Stoics1 and also o/ lato# :hy1 it is li2e.ise the teaching o/ the script0res o/ E0dais- and o/
6hristianity# No0 do0bt it; T0rn to the %oo2 o/ Ecclesiastes1 one o/ the so'called sacred
canonical .or2s o/ the latter t.o religions# :e have -ade o0r o.n translation o/ the /ollo.ing
passages1 /or .e tr0st not the translation o/ the theological scribes# They are too harsh on the
one hand1 and ins0//iciently clear on the other# :e /ind1 then1 in Ecclesiastes1 chapter 31
verses 1+'211 the /ollo.ing ? and please re-e-ber that this boo2 is s0pposed to have been
.ritten by the so'called @.isest -an in the .orld1@ Solo-on# :hatever .e -ay thin2 o/ that
notion1 those .ho accept this boo2 believe it# $t is old'/ashioned and pop0lar theology#
Said $ in -y heart1 concerning the nat0re o/ the sons o/ -an !)da" !it is" that the Elohi-
-ay /or- the-1 and to sho. that they are beasts1 they the-selves# For the destiny o/ the
sons o/ -an !)da" and the destiny o/ the beast is one destiny to the-5 as dies the one1
so dies the other; and the thin2ing /ac0lty Lthe Aebre. .ord is ruahh/ very e3traordinary
indeedKM is one /or all; and the s0periority o/ -an over the beast is nothing1 beca0se all
are ill0sion# ,ll go to one place# ,ll are /ro- the d0st1 and all ret0rn to the d0st#
%0t no. listen to the /ollo.ing1 sho.ing that the .riter o/ this1 altho0gh he certainly .as not
that -ythical /ig0re Solo-on1 .as nevertheless a -an .ho 2new+ 9istenK
:ho 2no.s the thin2ing /ac0lty o/ the sons o/ -an .hich1 hersel/1 ascends above; and the
thin2ing /ac0lty o/ the beast .hich1 hersel/1 descends 0nder the earth;
There .e have the age'old teaching regarding psychology1 and .hen properly 0nderstood1 it
.ill easily be seen that every .ord o/ it is tr0e# ,nd .hen the 2ey'.isdo- behind this brie/
e3position is 0nderstood1 it .ill be seen to be 0n0tterably bea0ti/0l# :hat vain ill0sions did
those -isg0ided -en o/ the early sects o/ 6hristendo- /oist 0pon the early .estern
E0ropean .orld; .hat irreligio0s /olly1 to teach that the physical body o/ -an is s0ch a
per-anent and necessary thing that it .ill be res0rrected and1 i/ the li/e o/ the ind.elling so0l
.as good1 shall sit .ith -0ltit0des on the @right hand o/ Bod ,l-ighty#@ :hat 0nbelievably
crass -aterialis-K 7ore spirit0al har- .as done to the E0ropean races by teachings s0ch as
this than anything1 perhaps1 that history records# 9i2e -any other teachings o/ early
6hristianity1 this one .as a horribly -ista2en and distorted tenet o/ the ancient .isdo-
concerning the regeneration o/ the personality into an i--ortal individ0ality ? one o/ the
ancient 7ystery'doctrines .hich .e e3plain brie/ly else.here# 4n the other hand1 it is
necessary to teach a -an o/ his dual nature8 to teach hi- that he is in his higher nat0re really
an essential spirit1 verily1 an incarnate god1 and that he can beco-e conscio0sly that god in
the /lesh i/ he .ill# ,nd teach hi- that i/ he chooses to /ollo. the beast'nat0re he beco-es as
a beast1 /or the inner sel/ tolerates not this latter co0rse# The silver thread !.hich is golden
above" is in that case bro2en; and instead o/ the -an .e have the -an'beast1 /or /ro- the
-an'beast the so0l departs1 nat0re8s -erci/0l liberation o/ the sel/'conscio0s ind.elling
individ0ality#
There is no @endless tort0re@ or p0nish-ent any.here#
&o. -y ti-e /or this evening is dra.ing to a close# $ have not said one'tenth part concerning
this s0b>ect o/ the seventh treas0re in its connection .ith the :ondro0s %eing; yet $ .ish to
add a /e. -ore .ords tonight be/ore ending# First1 as to -y reason /or 0sing the ter- the
@9ord %0ddha#@ This :ondro0s %eing overshado.ed abo0t t.enty'/ive h0ndred years ago a
p0re and noble'-inded yo0th born in the north o/ $ndia# The vehicle1 this yo0th1 .as in all
.ays receptive1 and the .isdo-'teaching co-ing /ro- hi- .as given to the .orld# This
chosen vehicle .as called Siddhartha as his personal na-e; his clan na-e .as Ba0ta-a;
and he .as later given the title Sa2ya-0ni ? -eaning the Sa2ya'sage; he .as also later
called the %0ddha# This .ord 6uddha is a title -eaning the @a.a2ened1@ >0st as the
.ord chri!to! or chri!t -eans the @anointed#@ The :ondro0s %eing overshado.ed1 and partly
entered into1 this yo0ng -an .ho had co-e strictly in accordance .ith the la. o/ cycles1 at
the cyclically appointed ti-e in the .orld8s co0rse; /or an ,.a2ened 4ne1 a /0ll 6hrist1 that is
to say1 a %0ddha1 .as cyclically destined to co-e at that ti-e# Ae .as in the line o/ the
s0ccessively'co-ing %0ddhas1 and he .as the noblest1 he .as the highest1 o/ the -ystic
hierarchy o/ his period1 as also he .as then the nearest to this :ondro0s $nitiator1 o/ any o/
o0r race# :e 2no. that the Teachers the-selves spea2 o/ the 9ord %0ddha as their Teacher#
That yo0ng -an1 .e are ta0ght1 ca-e directly /ro- the 9odge5 not his body1 b0t the holy
entity in/illing it# Ae .as one o/ their greater ones# 6oncerning all these pro/o0nd and
.onder/0l doctrines there is vastly -ore that si-ply cannot be 0ttered here1 /or obvio0s
reasons; there is an entire depart-ent o/ the esoteric philosophy involved .hich treats o/
so-e o/ the -ost care/0lly g0arded secrets o/ nat0re and being# :e -erely1 then1 hint1 and
pass on#
A# # %lavats2y hersel/1 yo0 -ay re-e-ber1 too2 %an!il/ a ali .ord -eaning the @/ive
I0alities or vo.s@ !in Sans2rit1 $ancha1!ila"1 and thereby beca-e a "oral %0ddhist# :hy;
%eca0se1 as the -essenger /ro- the 9odge1 she 2ne. per/ectly .ell that bac2 o/ the o0t.ard
teachings1 behind the e3oteric doctrines o/ Ba0ta-a %0ddha1 there is the inner tr0th1 there is
the esoteric 9uddhi!1 as .ell as the esoteric9udhi!5 the /or-er .ord spelled .ith t.o ds1
-eaning the teachings o/ Ba0ta-a the %0ddha; and the other .ord spelled .ith one d/ and
-eaning @.isdo-#@ ,nd they are tr0ly one .hen %0ddhis- is properly e3plained and
0nderstood# She 2ne. e3actly .hat she .as abo0t# 9oo21 /or instance1 at the .ay in .hich
she .rites o/ the %0ddha#
%0t1 .hile all the above is strict and acc0rate tr0th1 $ -0st enter here another caveat# ,re .e
%0ddhists; &o# &ot -ore so than .e are 6hristians1 e3cept perhaps in this sense1 that the
religio0s philosophy o/ the %0ddha'Sa2ya-0ni is inco-parably nearer to the ancient .isdo-1
the esoteric philosophy# $ts -ain /a0lt today is that its later teachers carried its doctrines too
/ar along -erely /or-al or e3oteric lines; and yet .ith all that1 and to this day1 it re-ains the
p0rest and holiest o/ the e3oteric religions on earth1 and its teachings even e3oterically are
tr0e# They need b0t the esoteric 2ey in interpretation o/ the-# ,s a -atter o/ /act1 the sa-e
-ay be said o/ all the great ancient .orld'religions# 6hristianity1 %rah-anis-1 and others1 all
have the sa-e esoteric .isdo- behind the o0t.ard veil o/ the e3oteric /or-al /aith#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that A# # %lavats2y says so-e.here that o/ the t.o branches o/
%0ddhis-1 i#e#1 the So0thern and the &orthern1 the So0thern still retains the teachings o/ the
@%0ddha8s brain1@ the @eye doctrine1@ that is to say his o0ter philosophy /or the general .orld;
and that the &orthern still retains his @heart doctrine#@
&o. 0nderstand those t.o e3pressions# They are %0ddhist ter-s5 eye doctrine and heart
doctrine are real %0ddhist ter-s# They are also esoteric .isdo- ter-s# The eye doctrine is
that .hich is seen; it -ay be /alse and it -ay be tr0e; b0t in the technical sense it is a tr0e
e3otericis- lac2ing only the 2ey# The eye doctrine is so-eti-es called the doctrine o/ /or-s
and cere-onies1 that is1 the /or-al o0t.ard presentation# :hereas the heart doctrine is that
.hich is hid1 b0t .hich is the inner li/e1 the heart'blood1 o/ the religion# ,s the eye is seen and
also sees1 so1 conversely1 the heart is 0nseen1 b0t is the li/e'giver1 and applied to religion the
e3pression -eans the doctrine o/ the inner heart o/ the teaching# ,s a secondary tho0ght1 it
also gives the idea that it contains the nobler part o/ h0-an cond0ct1 .hat people call
2indliness1 h0-anity1 co-passion1 pity#
hapter Ei)hteen
The Spirit0al'sychological Aierarchy o/ ,depts# The :ondro0s %eing1 the
%0ddhas1 &ir-ana2ayas1 =hyan'6hohans#
Then the %lessed 4ne spa2e1 and said5
8<no.1 Fasettha1 that !/ro- ti-e to ti-e" a Tathagata is born into the .orld1 a /0lly
Enlightened 4ne1 blessed and .orthy1 abo0nding in .isdo- and goodness1 happy1 .ith
2no.ledge o/ the .orld1 0ns0rpassed as a g0ide to erring -ortals1 a teacher o/ gods and
-en1 a %lessed %0ddha# Ae1 by hi-sel/1 thoro0ghly 0nderstands1 and sees1 as it .ere1
/ace to /ace this 0niverse ? the .orld belo. .ith all its spirits1 and the .orlds above1 o/
7ara and o/ %rah-a ? and all creat0res1 Sa-anas and %rah-ans1 gods and -en1 and he
then -a2es his 2no.ledge 2no.n to others# The tr0th doth he proclai- both in its letter
and in its spirit1 lovely in its origin1 lovely in its progress1 lovely in its cons0--ation5 the
higher li/e doth he -a2e 2no.n1 in all its p0rity and in all its per/ectness#8 ? Te4iAAa
Sutta/ pp# 1+C'7 !The Sacred %oo2s o/ the East1 vol# 3i"
4UR STU=N this evening begins .ith reading once -ore a part o/ the -atter /ro- the /irst
vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine/ .hich .as read at o0r last -eeting1 na-ely1 on page 2)75
The )rhat! o/ the @/ire'-ist@ o/ the 7th r0ng are b0t one re-ove /ro- the Root'%ase o/
their Aierarchy ? the highest on Earth1 and o0r Terrestrial chain# This @Root'%ase@ has a
na-e .hich can only be translated by several co-po0nd .ords into English ? @the ever'
living'h0-an'%anyan#@ This @:ondro0s %eing@ descended /ro- a @high region1@ they say1
in the early part o/ the Third ,ge1 be/ore the separation o/ the se3es o/ the Third Race#
This evening .e are going to -a2e a step /or.ard1 in so-e respects1 /ar and a.ay beyond
any distance that .e have traveled on a si-ilar occasion# 40r preceding t.o st0dies have
been /or the p0rpose1 -ainly1 o/ ill0strating so-e o/ the preli-inary ideas connected .ith this
.onder/0l doctrine o/ the :ondro0s %eing#
First1 then1 let 0s note that the 2ey .ord o/ this teaching is the .ord6an&an# =o0btless yo0 all
2no. .hat a banyan tree is1 a .ell'2no.n tree in $ndia1 and called the Ficu! 6engalen!i!/ the
@%engal Fig1@ beca0se it is a relative o/ the /ig tree# $t gro.s rapidly1 and soon attains to very
respectable di-ensions# Fro- its branches there hang do.n tendrils .hich1 .hen they reach
the soil1 stri2e into the gro0nd and beco-e roots there# ,nd the tendril .hich gre. do.n and
rooted itsel/ in the gro0nd beco-es another tree tr0n21 in its t0rn sending /orth branches1
these branches ane. sending /orth other tendrils1 beco-ing in their t0rn ne. roots1 .hich
again beco-e ne. tr0n2s1 sending /orth other branches1 developing in their t0rn ne. tendrils1
and so on# $t is a .onder/0l /ig0re o/ speech to have been chosen /or this s0b>ect#
&o. this :ondro0s %eing is a spirit0al banyan# To say that it is o0r higher sel/ .o0ld be
0sing a -isleading phrase; it .o0ld be doing violence to the /acts# &ot.ithstanding this1
ho.ever1 in one sense it is o0r higher sel/1 o0r ara-at-an# Fro- it .e spirit0ally spring; and
.hen1 in the co0rse o/ the cycles1 the li/e'.ave shall have r0n its ro0nds on this planetary
chain1 into the hierarchical banyan again .e shall be .ithdra.n# $t is in very tr0th1 so /ar as
this planet is concerned1 and so /ar as its thin2ing entities -ore partic0larly are concerned1
o0r Father in Aeaven# The :ondro0s %eing re/erred to here -0st not be con/0sed .ith its
lo.er copy1 the s0pre-e $nitiator1 the Breat Sacri/ice1 the Aead o/ the spirit0al'psychological
hierarchy o/ ,depts1 the -ore i--ediate s0b>ect o/ o0r present st0dy#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that in o0r /or-er st0dies .e pointed o0t that the co0rse o/ the evol0tion
o/ -an1 -ore partic0larly o/ his psychological nat0re1 .as a copy in -iniat0re o/ the
develop-ent not -erely o/ .orlds o/ the -acrocos-ic scale1 b0t also o/ vario0s high spirit0al
beings .ho /or- the directing intelligences o/ the 2os-os1 and o/ their vehicles in the
0niverse# First1 .hen the ti-e co-es /or -ani/estation1 /or the sending /orth o/ a li/e'.ave1 it
begins1 ro0nds o0t1 and then co-pletes its evol0tionary co0rse on the /irst @plane@ o/ its
do.n.ard and /or.ard >o0rney# Then1 passing /ro- that plane1 to 0se the ordinary ter-1 and
going to a lo.er one1 it leaves on the plane or sphere to and into .hich it had /irst penetrated1
vehicles o/ vario0s sorts1 re-aining -ore or less active1 tho0gh the -ain vigor o/ the li/e'
.ave has passed on# ,nd so thro0gh and in all o/ the seven planes or spheres o/
-ani/estation ? /irst in the spirit0al .orld; then in the psychical; then in the astral; and lastly in
the physical; th0s reaching the li-it .hich the active i-p0lse or /orce o/ the evol0tionary
.ave attains in that partic0lar -anvantara1 .hich is .hat .e call absol0te -atter /or that
partic0lar li/e'.ave5 /o0r planes /ro- its beginning1 co0nting do.n.ards# Three -ore planes
0p.ards ro0nd o0t the -anvantaric cycle#
Re-e-ber here that o0r teaching allo.s o/ no s0ch things as @absol0tes@ in the ordinary
sense1 /or act0ally all absol0tes are relative# The absol0te sel/1 o0r Father in Aeaven1 is b0t
the ,bsol0te o/ o0r hierarchy1 its cro.n1 its s0--it1 its glory; or1 considering it as the
beginning o/ -ani/ested beings1 the root or the seed thereo/# ,nd1 as all nat0re .or2s in
bipolar phases1 @absol0te -atter1@ there/ore1 is the ultiate de%th to which a !%iritual i%ul!e
can reach in that %articular an4antaric c&cle+ %elo. it are other co-plete hierarchies; .hile
above o0r hierarchical !not individ0al" Father in Aeaven is the lo.est plane o/ another b0t
s0perior hierarchy1 one o/ inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ hierarchies1 .hich in their aggregate
co-prise the 0niversal 2os-os#
$n o0r last st0dy .e spo2e o/ the care that .e sho0ld have .hen .e spea2 o/ the 4ne; the
reason is that there are in/inite -0ltit0des o/ s0ch 4nes1 a necessary i-plication o/ .hat .e
have said this evening and else.here#
&o.1 as the -onad descends into -atter1 or rather as its ray ? one o/ other inn0-erable rays
proceeding /ro- it ? is propelled into -atter1 it secretes /ro- itsel/ and then e3cretes on each
one o/ the seven planes thro0gh .hich it passes its vario0s vehicles1 all overshado.ed by
the sel/1 the sa-e sel/ in yo0 and in -e1 in plants and in ani-als1 in /act in all that is and
belongs to that hierarchy# $t is the one sel/1 the s0pre-e sel/ or ara-at-an o/ the hierarchy#
$t ill0-ines and /ollo.s each individ0al -onad and all the latter8s hosts o/ rays# Each s0ch
-onad is a spirit0al seed /ro- the previo0s -anvantara1 .hich -ani/ests as a -onad in this
-anvantara; and this -onad thro0gh its rays thro.s o0t /ro- itsel/ by secretion and then
e3cretion all its vehicles; and these vehicles are1 /irst1 the spirit0al ego1 the re/lection or copy
in -iniat0re o/ the -onad itsel/1 b0tindi4iduali=ed thro0gh the -anvantaric evol0tion1 bearing
or carrying as a vehicle the -onadic ray# The latter cannot directly contact the lo.er planes1
beca0se it is the -onadic essence itsel/1 the latter a !till higher ra&o/ the in/inite %o0ndless
co-posed o/ in/inite -0ltiplicity in 0nity#
The ne3t vehicle is the spirit0al so0l1 the bearer o/ the spirit0al ego# 4n its o.n higher plane1
this vehicle is1 as it .ere1 a shea/ or pillar o/ light# Si-ilarly .ith the vario0s egos and their
related vehicle'so0ls on the in/erior planes1 all gro.ing constantly -ore dense1 as the planes
o/ -atter1 into .hich the -onadic ray penetrates1 grad0ally thic2en do.n.ards and beco-e
-ore dense 0ntil the /inal @so0l#@ The /inal so0l is the physical body1 the general vehicle or
bearer or carrier o/ the- all# So0l1 as the ter- is here 0sed1 is seen to be a general
e3pression /or any bearer or carrier o/ an egoic center1 or ego#
:hen .e call this hierarchical :ondro0s %eing o0r highest sel/1 .e -ean that it is the
pri-eval or originating seed /ro- .hich .e gro. and develop into co-posite entities1 the
i--ortal divine part o/ o0r nat0re and being# :e can consider it1 in one a!%ect/ as a shea/ o/
divine light separating into inn0-erable individ0als or entities !-onads and -onadic rays" in
a -anvantara; and .hen the pralaya co-es1 again .ithdra.ing and dra.n bac2 into itsel/1
enriched and ennobled1 ho.ever1 through it! countle!! ho!t! o" ani"e!ted onad! and
onadic ra&!/ .ith the individ0aliDing e3perience that these latter have gained1 beca0se1
tho0gh at /irst 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2s1 they are no. !el"1con!ciou! divinities# The
inn0-erably vario0s individ0al conscio0snesses increase in po.er and glory and sel/'
cognition by -eans o/ the li/e and lives thro0gh .hich it !and they" have passed# Aence the
.onder'teaching /lo.ing /orth /ro- this#
9isten care/0lly5 last spring .e pointed o0t that the one end and ai- o/ all -anvantaric
evol0tion is the rai!ing o" the ortal into iortalit&8 and .e -entioned as an ill0stration o/
the idea the bea0ti/0l $nvocation o/ <atherine Tingley1 @that /ro- the corr0ptible $ -ay beco-e
incorr0ptible; that /ro- dar2ness $ -ay go /orth in light#@ That1 indeed1 is the ai- and end o/
2os-ic evol0tion# Aave .e reached as yet s0ch a state1 yo0 and $; :e have not; and o0r
i--ortality as -en is none3istent or rather conditional1 and .ill so be 0ntil .e have @raised
the corr0ptible into incorr0ptibility#@
$n order to -a2e things -ore clear1 please note the /ollo.ing5 no st0dent o/ these st0dies
sho0ld /eel disco0raged at .hat -ay see- to hi- to be the con/0sion ca0sed by 0sing s0ch
.ords as spirit0al1 divine1 :ondro0s %eing1 the 4ne1 hierarchy1 and -any -ore1 in vario0s
places .hich see- di//erent /ro- other places or conditions# The /act is that s0ch 0sage is
really 0navoidable# &o E0ropean lang0age has evolved ter-s or e3pressions s0itable to
these -a>estic and o/ten !to 0s" co-ple3 doctrines; and hence a spea2er is obliged to do the
best he can in this respect# %0t please -ar2 this .ell5 there need be no con/0sion
.hatsoever1 and in ti-e there .ill be none1 i/ the st0dent or reader .ill constantly bear in
-ind the /ollo.ing /acts# The entire /ra-e.or2 o/ 2os-os1 or nat0re1 is b0ilded thro0gho0t in
scalar /ashion1 and on correspondences and repetitives1 so that1 act0ally1 the sa-e
descriptive .ords are properly applied to any the-e o/ a repetitive character1 /or the reason
that there are no absol0tes any.here1 and everything is strictly relative to everything else#
The only di//erences are those o/ evol0tionary develop-ent1 and the relative and varying
greater or less degree in .hich spirit or -atter is evolved or -ani/esting# The divine o/ one
hierarchy is act0ally grossest -atter to another /ar s0perior hierarchy; b0t .ithin one and the
other the repetitive r0les apply very strictly1 beca0se 2os-os or nat0re /ollo.s one general
cour!e and one law/ and has one general and throughout1re%eatedco0rse o/ action1 .hich
applies as strictly and /0lly to a 2os-os as to the less 2os-os1 the ato-#
Aence1 the :ondro0s %eing o/ o0r o.n planetary spirit0al'psychological hierarchy o/ ,depts1
etc#1 is a correspondence in s-all o/ the 2os-ical 4ne o/ the 0niversal 2os-ical hierarchy o/
the solar syste-1 etc#
%earing this r0le ever in -ind1 con/0sion .ill grad0ally /ade a.ay into daDDling light o/
ill0-ination# $t is .ell .orth tryingK
So-e perhaps -ay thin2 it a re-ar2able thing that in o0r last t.o st0dies .e contrasted the
case o/ the lost so0l .ith the case o/ the children o/ this :ondro0s %eing ? the b0ddhas#
&at0rally the /or-er are the other or nether pole o/ the b0ddhas1 as these lost so0ls are1 li2e
the b0ddhas1 cases o/ e3tre-e rarity o/ occ0rrence# $n o0r present state o/ evol0tion1 in .hich
these lost so0ls occ0r1 eI0ally rare is the other occ0rrence5 the raising o/ the -ortal into
i--ortality1 o/ the corr0ptible into incorr0ptibility#
9et 0s go into this a little /arther# :hat is it that is @lost@; $t is the so0l# &o. .hat is so0l; ,s $
have e3plained be/ore1 by o0r 0se it is a vehicle on the higher planes -ani/esting as a shea/
or pillar o/ light; and on the lo.er planes1 depending 0pon the spirit0ality o/ the plane1 or its
-ateriality1 a -ore or less physically corporeal body# These so0ls in all cases are living1 -ore
!or less" conscio0s1 sentient entities; living beings1 co-posite5 each one o/ the- co-posed o/
inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ less !in/erior" entities1 as o0r body itsel/ is co-posed o/ I0asi'
in/inite n0-bers o/ ato-ic cos-oi1 tiny cos-oses1 -in0te 0niverses#
&o. s0ch a so0l beco-es lost1 annihilated tr0ly1 .hen it has lost its to0ch or rather 0nion
.ith that .hich gives it i--ortality ? or the %roi!e o" it+ For1 i/ and .hen the i-p0lse1 all
i-p0lses or aspirations1 to.ards the ind.elling divinity1 to.ards its closer 0nion there.ith1
have /aded o0t or ceased co-pletely1 then there is nothing le/t in it to hold it together1 /or it is
.holly a co-po0nded thing1 as said be/ore1 and it then disintegrates1 /alls to pieces1 as the
physical body .ill disintegrate in the /ire or in the earth# :hat then happens to the i--ortal
-onad .hich had in/or-ed it; $ts career in that vehicle is violently chec2ed# The co0rse o/
nat0re1 o/ destiny1 in that partic0lar instance1 has been violated and interr0pted# Net all the
previo0s spirit0al gleanings /ro- the /or-er lives o/ that -onad in other /or-er vehicles still
re-ain; and1 a/ter a certain period1 the -onad shoots /orth another ray1 another ego1
altho0gh the page o/ the lost so0l re-ains blan21 so to say ? it is1 as it .ere1 none3istent1
co-pletely .iped o0t# $--ortality has no record o/ it# $t is tr0ly a terrible thing1 not only
spirit0ally1 b0t /or the higher so0l1 the spirit0al ego1 itsel/ !see diagra-"#
4n the contrary1 on the other side1 .hen once in -any1 -any generations the /lo.er o/
spirit0ality bloo-s /0ll in a so0l1 and -ortality is raised into i--ortality1 .e have the opposite
case5 a 7aster is born1 conscio0sly i--ortal1 lin2ed /or ever .ith his higher individ0al sel/# ,s
the one case is one pole1 so is the other case the other pole o/ nat0re8s co0rse#
%0t .hen the /or-er so0l is lost1 there is then /or it no -ore pain1 no -ore sorro.; it is .iped
o0t1 and vanishes1 even as a shado. .hich passes along a .all and is gone#
&o. listen5 -odern science tells 0s in its hypotheses b0ilt 0pon its recent discoveries1 that
every physical ato- is co-posed1 /irst1 o/ a central n0cle0s .hich is called a proton; and1
second1 that aro0nd it go circling1 cycling1 revolving ? precisely as the planets and -any
co-ets in the solar syste- do aro0nd the s0n ? other corp0sc0lar bodies called electrons#
:e .ill 0se these /acts as ill0strative o/ o0r the-e beca0se the conception is so closely
si-ilar in o0tline to that o/ the ancient .isdo-# The ne3t idea to grasp is that -ere b0l21 -ere
-agnit0de1 is no proo/ or criterion o/ greatness1 either in spirit0al grande0r or in physical
po.er# The /act is that every ato- in the -ani/ested 0niverse is a bearer and a carrier
o/ li4e!# 40r bodies are act0ally co-posed and b0ilded 0p o/ inn0-erable hosts o/ s0ch
ato-s1 every one a -iniat0re cos-os or solar syste-1 every one o/ the- carrying its hosts o/
astral'psychic and even spirit0al in/initesi-als# 4ver all1 thro0gh all1 per-eating all1
controlling all1 giving connected and inhering li/e to all1 are the predo-inant li/e1 po.er1 and
characteristic o/ o0r o.n personality1 o/ o0r o.n personal ego as -an; the ara-at-an1 the
spirit0al sel/1 the Father in Aeaven1 o/ these in/initesi-al beings# :e are not necessarily
greater in e!!ence than any one 0nit o/ these inn0-erable hosts o/ in/initesi-als .hich live1
and -ove1 and have their being1 in one or another or another or another ato- o/ o0r body#
There -ay be entities a-ong the- very -0ch /arther advanced than .e are1 parado3ical as
the state-ent -ay so0nd; and there/ore $ repeat5 @%rea2 the -olds o/ yo0r -inds; let in the
lightK@ %eca0se a thing -ay be strange to the -ind and beca0se it -ay so0nd ne.1 is it
there/ore necessarily 0ntr0e; Ao. dare yo0 or $ or anyone say5 @This or that is the onl& tr0th1
the onl& thing that can be@; :hat is the criterion o/ tr0th here; :hat1 indeed1 i! tr0th1 as
>0dged by s0ch standards;
9et 0s go a step /arther# Ta2e o0r body or1 /or instance1 its organs ? the heart1 the liver1 the
brain1 and others1 each one receiving /ro- the predo-inant personal ego o/ the -an certain
partic0lar rays o/ /orce1 and each one a 2os-ical 0niverse or a 0niversal 2os-os /or the
hosts o/ ato-ic in/initesi-als co-posing it ? in this connection1 $ say1 has it ever str0c2 yo01
has it ever occ0rred to yo01 that o0r solar syste- is s0ch an ato-ic in/initesi-al as co-pared
.ith the 0niversal 2os-os; /or-ed o/ its proton the s0n1 and o/ its electrons the planets1 each
planet bearing its hosts o/ lives1 and /or-ing a part o/ the vehicle or body1 i/ yo0 .ill1 o/ so-e
i--ense titanic entity 0tterly beyond o0r sphere o/ co-prehension; @Bod@; %0t .hy Bod;
:hat ass0rance have .e that s0ch a titanic entity is better than yo0 or $1 as Bod is s0pposed
to be; 7ere -agnit0de or b0l21 -ere -aterial -agnit0de1 is absol0tely no criterion o/
anything# 40r pict0re -ay or it -ay not be tr0e# %0t the point to get here is this1 that as o0r
body is held together by the /orces driving thro0gh it1 and co-ing /ro- 0s1 secreted and
e3creted by yo0 and by -e; so does the 4ne o/ the 0niversal 2os-os ? or o/ any hierarchy
in/erior to it ? send /orth and control the -any# Th0s1 then1 the 0niversal 2os-ical :ondro0s
%eing is o0r highest sel/; .hich in no .ay .hatever contradicts or inter/eres .ith the other
/act1that each one o" u! ha! hi! own onadic higher !el"/ a !%ar2 thereo"/ de!tined in it! turn
to 6ecoe in "uture an4antara! the highe!t !el" o" a 2o!o!+ ro/o0nd1 s0bli-e tho0ghtK
,nd the :ondro0s %eing o/ in/erior scope and splendor1 .ho is the root'base o/ o0r o.n
planetary spirit0al'psychological hierarchy o/ ,depts1 a -iniat0re as it .ere o/ the 2os-ical1
is the one spo2en o/ in the passage /ro- The Secret Doctrine.hich /or-s o0r present the-e#
&o.1 the hierarchical :ondro0s %eing has been deliberately spo2en o/ in o0r last t.o
st0dies1 and also in this o0r present st0dy1 as an entit&beca0se1 generaliDing the conception1
it i! an entity# %0t there are three /or-s in .hich1 or planes 0pon .hich1 this entity -ani/ests;
and /or the sa2e o/ perspic0ity and convenience1 >0st here1 .e are going to 0se the %0ddhist
phraseology1 the phraseology o/ %0ddhis- and Tibet1 as e3pressed in the Sans2rit lang0age#
The highest aspect1 or the highest s0bentity o/ the :ondro0s %eing is called adi16uddha/
adi -eaning @pri-eval@ !or the highest"# This adi'b0ddha is in the dhara2a&a state5 a
Sans2rit co-po0nd o/ t.o .ords -eaning the @contin0ance'body1@ so-eti-es translated
eI0ally .ell ? or ill ? the @body o/ the la.1@ both very inadeI0ate e3pressions1 /or the di//ic0lty
in translating these e3tre-ely -ystical ter-s is very great# , -ere correct dictionary
translation -isses the esoteric -eaning entirely; and >0st there is .here 4ccidental scholars
-a2e s0ch l0dicro0s errors at ti-es# The /irst .ord co-es /ro- the rootdhri/ -eaning @to
s0pport1@ @to s0stain1@ @to carry1@ @to bear1@ hence @to contin0e@; also h0-an la.s are the
agencies s0pposed to carry1 s0pport1 s0stain1 civiliDation; the second ele-ent1 2a&a/ -eans
@body@; the no0n th0s /or-ed -ay be rendered the @body o/ the la.1@ b0t this phrase does
not give the idea at all# $t is that spirit0al body or state o/ a high spirit0al being in .hich the
sense o/ so0lship and egoity has vanished into a 0niversal !hierarchical" sense1 and re-ains
only in the seed1 i#e#1 latent ? i/ even so -0ch# $t is p0re conscio0sness1 p0re bliss1 p0re
intelligence1 /reed /ro- all personaliDing tho0ght#
The second aspect or s0bentity is called the dh&ani16uddha/@conte-plation'b0ddha1@ a great
descent /ro- the /or-er1 so /ar as -ere i-personal spirit0ality goes# This is carried by
the !a6hoga12a&a/ t.o Sans2rit .ords -eaning @en>oy-ent'body1@ or rather @participation'
body1@ beca0se the b0ddha in the sa-bhoga'2aya state still participates in1 still retains1 its
conscio0sness as an individ0al1 its egoship and its so0l1 tho0gh it is still too /ar above
-aterial or personal concerns to care abo0t or to -eddle .ith the-; and there/ore it .o0ld be
po.erless here on o0r -aterial earth# ,s A# # %lavats2y once said1 a god /ro- the spheres
celestial1 living solely in its o.n nat0re1 and .itho0t a -aterial body to -ani/est in -aterial
spheres1 .o0ld be 0tterly po.erless there#
The third1 and lo.est1 yet in one sense the highest aspect or s0bentity !highest on acco0nt o/
the i--ense1 .illing1 !el"1!acri"ice involved in its incarnation in h0-an /lesh" is the anu!ha1
6uddha1 -eaning @h0-an b0ddha1@ beca0se born in a h0-an body /or co-passionate .or2
a-ong -en# The -an0sha'b0ddha at .ill or need lives and .or2s in the nir-ana2aya1 @/or-'
body1@ abo0t .hich a very .onder/0l doctrine e3ists1 to be e3plained later#
The dhyani'b0ddhas are one o/ the ten classes o/ beings .hich ca-e to o0r globe /ro- the
preceding planetary -anvantara# :e .ill recite the-1 as /ollo.s5 three ele-ental 2ingdo-s1
the lo.est; the -ineral 2ingdo-; the plant 2ingdo-; the beast 2ingdo-# $ pa0se a -o-ent in
order to -a2e a re-ar2# lease do not say @ani-al@ in this connection# :e -0st have
precision here# ,ni-al -eans any being .hich has an ania/ or @vital so0l#@ 7an is an
ani-al in that sense1 b0t he is not a beast1 Ais vital'astral'physical body is a beast1 and he
.or2s in and .ith a h0-an so0l thro0gh a vital or beast so0l1 enlightened by a spirit0al so0l#
:e hope to have ti-e later to ill0strate this point -ore /0lly this evening#
Then another 2ingdo- a/ter the beast 2ingdo-5 the -an0sha'2ingdo- or h0-an 2ingdo-#
So /ar1 then1 .e have three ele-ental 2ingdo-s1 3; then the -ineral1 *; plant1 (; beast1 C;
h0-an1 7# Then begin the dhyan'chohans o/ three classes# 7an in his higher nat0re is an
e-bryo dhyan'chohan1 an e-bryo lord o/ -editation# $t is his destiny1 i/ he r0n the race
s0ccess/0lly1 to blosso- /orth at the end o/ the seventh ro0nd as a lord o/ -editation; i/ yo0
li2e1 as a spirit0al planetary1 or a planetary spirit1 .hen this planetary -anvantaric 2alpa is
ended1 this =ay o/ %rah-a1 .hich is the seven ro0nds in seven stages each# %0t there are
three classes o/ dhyan'chohans1 as said; these three classes in their t0rn are each divided
into seven1 as yo0 2no.# &o. o/ these three the lo.est class being divided into seven1 o/
these seven the /o0rth is that dhyan'chohan .ho is our @Bod in Aeaven1@"or thi!
"ourth round+ $ts spirit0al pri-ary is the adi'b0ddha o/ the /o0rth ro0nd# $t itsel/ is a dhyani'
b0ddha#
9et 0s try to -a2e this clearer# 4n each planet or globe o/ the seven globes /or-ing the
planetary chain1 as the li/e'.ave to0ches it in a ro0nd ? and si-ilarly thro0gh all the seven
ro0nds ? there is evolved1 or rather appears1 a b0ddha1 it -ight be better to say a -aha'
b0ddha5 one at the co--ence-ent o/ a globe8s a.a2ening to li/e again1 and another -aha'
b0ddha .hen the li/e'.ave leaves the planet a/ter co-pleting its ro0nd there# 9i2e.ise1 /or
each race d0ring s0ch a globe'ro0nd there appears another b0ddha .ho1 so to say1 is a ray
/ro- the -aha'b0ddha o/ the planet1 and is called the race'b0ddha; and he in his t0rn1 at the
-iddle o/ the race1 or .hen the central point o/ the race is nearing1 overshado.s a chosen
h0-an vessel o/ p0rity and nobility1 or spirit0al grande0r1 this last beco-ing the b0ddha
preparing the spirit0al .ay /or the great race'b0ddha o/ the s0cceeding root'race1 .ho
appears shortly be/ore the close o/ the preceding root'race# S0ch a one !as this last" .as the
9ord Sa2ya-0ni1 Ba0ta-a %0ddha1 .ho is no. living on earth1 as the Teachers tell 0s1 a
nir-ana2aya# , nir-ana2aya is the lo.est o/ the three -ystical vehicles1 as .e e3plained a
little .hile ago# $t e3ists in seven degrees or 2inds1 the lo.est being the case .here the
entity1 the spirit0al entity1 retains all his h0-an principles e3cept the physical body ? all# Ae is
a -an in every respect1 e3cept /or the physical body1 .hich he has discarded#
&o. all these b0ddhas ? and .e have no ti-e this evening to ill0strate the .onder/0l
-ysteries connected .ith this doctrine ? all these b0ddhaso" a round derive /ro- the dhyani'
b0ddha o" that round+ They /or- part o/ the spirit0al'psychological hierarchy o/ that ro0nd# $t
is this dhyani'b0ddha o/ o0r /o0rth ro0nd1 o0r Father in Aeaven1 .ho is the :ondro0s %eing1
the Breat $nitiator1 the Sacri/ice1 spo2en o/ be/ore# The na-e and titles are so-eti-es
li2e.ise applied to that spirit0al entity1 the race'b0ddha1 .ho co-es shortly be/ore or at the
beginning o/ a root'race; and .ho at certain epochs d0ring the co0rse o/ that race chooses a
/it h0-an vehicle1 0s0ally one o/ the Breat 9odge1 overshado.s this chosen vessel or
incarnates in it1 as the case -ay be ? depending 0pon the -ateriality o/ the race and ro0nd
and -any other /actors ? and so overshado.ed1 the chosen vessel beco-es the -an0sha or
h0-an b0ddha# Strictly spea2ing1 the race'b0ddha hi-sel/ is a -an0sha or h0-an b0ddha
also# ,s re-ar2ed be/ore1 probably none o/ these titles or na-es are hard and /ast as li-ited
to one sole entity; they are o/ten applied1 utati! utandi!/ to -ore than one sole entity or
class# This is e3tre-ely s0ggestive#
$t is in this -anner that this s0b>ect o/ the :ondro0s %eing1 .hich see-s so intricate1 b0t
.hich is act0ally so si-ple1 is e3plained# $t see-s intricate on acco0nt o/ its s0btility1 b0t it is
very si-ple indeed# $t is o0r brain'-inds o/ -atter .hich prevent 0s /ro- seeing it easily and
clearly# The ray r0nning thro0gh all o0r individ0al being1 /ro- .hich .e dra. o0r !%iritualli/e
and !%iritual s0stenance1 co-es direct to 0s /ro- this hierarchical :ondro0s %eing in who
we all are rooted+ Ae to 0s1 psychologically and spirit0ally1 holds e3actly the sa-e place that
the h0-an ego1 the -an'ego1 holds to the inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ ele-ental entities .hich
co-pose his body ? ato-ic in/initesi-als1 be/ore re/erred to1 are not-eant here#
%0t listen5 the analogy is correct also in this respect1 that i/ .e -ade it 0niversal1 2os-ic1 .e
.o0ld say that that ine3pressible 4ne ? .hich is the Ut-ost o/ the Ut-ost1 and the $n-ost o/
the $n-ost1 o" our 2o!ical uni4er!e/ co-prising the greatest bo0ndaries o/ the 7il2y :ay ?
corresponds to all .ithin the 7il2y :ay as o0r h0-an ego corresponds to the in/initesi-al
ato-ic 0niverses .hich co-pose its o.n physical body# The sy-bology is there; the
correspondence is there; and it is by the correspondence that .e are striving to e3plain
so-e.hat o/ the -ystery1 ho. the 4ne beco-es the -any; not beca0se the 4ne @descends
into -atter@ or beco-es @-any@ -aterially and literally# &ot at all# %0t in the sa-e .ay that
the s0n is an i--ense and e3ha0stless reservoir o/ vital1 psychic1 and spirit0al rays1 sending
the- o0t thro0gh billions o/ years1 e3ha0stlessly; in the sa-e .ay this hierarchical :ondro0s
%eing o/ 2os-ic -agnit0de1 through it! in"erior 6ut high 7ondrou! 9eing! o" 4ariou!
degree!/ enlightens 0s and 0pli/ts 0s and inspires 0s1 and leads 0s on.ard and 0p.ard
to.ards i--ortality1 /or aye doing its best1 thro0gh its o.n spirit0al ray .ithin 0s1 to ill0-ine
and lighten o0r -aterial corr0ptibility1 in order to -a2e it incorr0ptible; that /ro- personality
.e -ay enter individ0ality; @that /ro- dar2ness1 .e -ay go /orth in lightK@ ,nd the ti-e .ill
co-e .hen .e shall do this .or2 and beco-e incorr0ptiblecon!ciou!l&/ .or2ing .ith nat0re
and beco-ing one .ith her; /or1 >0st as this :ondro0s %eing is the /o0ndation'/orce bac2 o/
and behind all that .e call nat0re1 so that sa-e :ondro0s %eing in /ar'gone /or-er
-anvantaras .as then a -an1 even as yo0 and $ no. are# Such we !hall al!o 6ecoe/ i" we
run the co!ic race !ucce!!"ull&+ :onder/0l1 inspiring tho0ghtK
&o. $ .ish to read a citation /ro- <atherine Tingley1 ta2en /ro- one o/ her recent lect0res1
beca0se it is so appropriate to o0r present st0dies on this point1 that i/ .e co-e here .ith
p0re hearts and a sincere -otive1 learning /ro- each other in the spirit o/ tr0e co-radeship
and brotherly love1 .e shall all get so-ething high and /ine1 so-ething to 0rge 0s 0p.ard
and on.ard# $t .ill be a holy thing1 a benediction# 9isten5
, -an gets .hat he .or2s /or1 and i/ he does not .or2 /or it1 be does not get it# %0t .hen
one .ants tr0th so -0ch that he is act0ally h0ngry /or it1 he gets it# $t is the .ine o/ li/e1 so
to spea21 the revelation o/ the boo2 o/ li/e# &o lang0age can describe it#
Those .ho desire the tr0th1 those .ho have the co0rage to enter the ne. li/e1 those .ho
have the desire to be reborn in a sense1 -0st thro. overboard everything that has held
the- do.n in their li-itations1 in their do0bts1 in their /ears1 their disli2es1 and their
passions# 7an is a -a>estic being i/ he 2no.s his o.n spirit0al nat0re1 and .or2s
assid0o0sly to beco-e that .hich he .as intended to be#
:e are c0tting brie/ o0r lect0re tonight; it is already very long; .e have still -ore to say1 and
o0r ti-e /or closing is dra.ing near#
,nother tho0ght that -0st be hinted at tonight is that A# # %lavats2y8sSecret Doctrine is both
an e3oteric and an esoteric boo2# $t contains doctrines .hich .ere esoteric be/ore this boo2
.as printed# &o. they are @e3oteric#@ %0t i/ anyone thin2s ? $ never did1 than2 the i--ortal
gods ? that he 2no.s The Secret Doctrine by reading it once or even a doDen ti-es1 or a
score o/ ti-es1 he -ista2es greatly the sit0ation# $t -0st be read not only bet.een the lines1
b0t .ithin the .ords# $ have /o0nd the val0e o/ the /ollo.ing r0le5 never ta2e a single
state-ent in it and allo. yo0r -ind to -old itsel/ aro0nd it1 never let a single idea crystalliDe;
brea2 the -olds1 let in the light# $t is an e3cellent r0le# ,s soon as a -an says5 @$ have the
tr0th1@ loo2 o0t /or hi-1 /or he is probably blind# The -olds o/ his -ind are crystalliDed1 and he
cannot see the light#
These things1 these tho0ghts that .e st0dy1 are serio0s1 there is no playing .ith the-; it
-eans going u% or going down8 and .e have the choice o/ paths daily1 -o-ently1 instantly# $
do not -ean this as a preach-ent# $ spea2 /ro- -y heart1 /or $ have /o0nd the tr0th o/ .hat $
say1 and its great val0e#
&o. to ill0strate by a diagra- this I0estion o/ so0ls and egos all0ded to this evening
!see diagra-"5
lease note here .hat is intended to be an egg'shaped design# $t is not a graphic
representation1 that is1 a %icture8 it is a paradig-# , paradig- is a graphic sy-bol1 b0t not a
pict0re o/ a thing#
9et the three parallel lines dra.n above the egg represent1 i/ yo0 .ill1 the ar0pa .orld1 the
/or-less .orld; and the seven planes co-prised .ithin the egg1 the r0pa .orld1 seven being
the n0-ber o/ the principles al.ays in -ani/estation1 held in 0nion as an individ0al by the
higher triad1 the ar0pa triad1 its root above#
The three higher o/ the seven .ithin the egg are also called ar0pa1 /or-less1 b0t only
relatively so# lease re-e-ber one o/ the /irst lessons o/ the esoteric .isdo-5 there are no
a6!olute!+ :e spea2 indeed o/ absol0tes1 b0t only as relative absol0tes# The pop0lar1
ordinary sense o/ this .ord as @li-itless or endless co%letion!@ is 0tterly inad-issible1
/orthere are no a6!olute! o/ that 2ind1 /or e4er& thing is relative in I0ality and space and ti-e
to !oe thing el!e/ and it -0st be so 0nless .e cast logic and co--on sense to the .inds#
E0st thin2 o/ it5 i/ any thing .ere absol0te in the old pop0lar sense1 it .o0ld be everything1
and there co0ld be nothing b0t that in -ani/estation1 hence no change /or better-ent1 no
progress1 no evol0tion# Relativity ? .hich -eans 0niversally occ0rring relationships in space
and ti-e ? is the very heart o/ the conception o/ the 2os-os as an aggregate o/ evolving
entities1 the o//spring o/ in/inite -otion1 in/inite li/e1 in/inite progress al.ays#
To contin0e o0r disc0ssion o/ the paradig-5 thro0gh this egg'shaped paradig- /alls the ray
/ro- the ar0pa .orld1 represented by the vertical line signi/ying the sel/ 0niversally
-ani/esting in every ato- it to0ches in this 2os-os ? and it per-eates the- all ? as the sel/
individ0al1 the sel/ egoic1 the h0-an sel/1 the astral sel/1 etc# These three highest divisions1
the ar0pa triad1 collectively are li2e.ise called the ara-at-an1 the s0pre-e sel/1 the s0--it
or /lo.er o/ the hierarchy1 the root'base or so0rce o/ that sel/#
lease al.ays 2eep in -ind that there is another hierarchy above o0r highest division1 this
division beginning .ith the lo.est1 the @absol0te -atter1@ o/ that higher hierarchy# #4er&thing
i! relati4e+ ,bsol0te -atter even o/ o0r o.n hierarchy .o0ld be intangible1 invisible1 to 0s#
:hy; %eca0se o0r present physical senses do not belong to its plane1 and there/ore have
not been trained by evol0tion to ta2e cogniDance o/ it; o0r senses1 eyesight1 s-elling1 tasting1
hearing1 to0ching1 can cogniDe only those things1 and all those things1 .hich they have been
b0ilt to cogniDe thro0gh e3perience in and thro0gh o0rselves# :e have not descended in this
-anvantara into the absol0te -atter o/ any other hierarchy than o0r o.n; .e have gone
do.n only as /ar as the stages o/ this hierarchy .o0ld let 0s go# $ do not here -ean o0r
2os-ical hierarchy# Rather1 $ -ean o0r planetary hierarchy# =o not be absol0te in the
application o/ ter-inology1 /or the reasons already set /orth# :e -0st1 .hen .e hear a
@hierarchy@ spo2en o/1 i--ediately I0estion which one+ :hen .e hear the @sel/@ spo2en o/1
.e -0st i--ediately I0estion which one+ :hen .e hear the @so0l@ spo2en o/1 let 0s
i--ediately as2 o0rselves which !oul+ This is a sa/e r0le and g0ide to /ollo. in interpretation
o/ any and all passages#
&o.1 as >0st said1 these three highest planes represented by the three horiDontal lines
paradig-atically represent the ara-at-an or s0pre-e sel/ o/ the hierarchy1 in the
archetypal .orld# $/ yo0 please1 let this top-ost circle inside the egg represent the -onadic
envelope or the divine so0l1 .hich is called1 /ro- another standpoint1 the at-an or divine ego#
The circle on the horiDontal plane belo. the -onadic envelope let 0s call the spirit0al so0l or
the individ0al -onad# The sel/ corresponding to it is the >ivat-an# &e3t co-es the third circle
in this egg1 and corresponding to it is the higher h0-an so0l1 co-posed o/ the lo.er b0ddhi
and the higher -anas; and the sel/ corresponding to it is the bh0tat-an1 -eaning the @sel/ o/
that .hich has been1@ or the reincarnating ego+ The /o0rth is the lo.er h0-an so0l or -an1
-anas and 2a-a; and the sel/ corresponding to it is pranat-an1 or personal ego# The ne3t
circle1 still lo.er ? gro.ing progressively dar2er li2e all the others1 .hich $ have atte-pted to
ill0strate by increasing the shading ? is the beast so0l1 2a-a'prana# ,nd the sel/
corresponding to it -ay be si-ply called the beast ego# Finally1 the lo.est @so0l@ o/ all is the
physical body# Re-e-ber that the .ord !oul/ in o0r ancient .isdo-1 -eans vehicle; and1 o/
co0rse1 this lo.est vehicle1 the physical body1 also co-prehends the prana1 and the linga'
sarira or -odel'body .hich is its bac2gro0nd and seed and root# These three are
inseparable#
lease notice in this diagra- the role played by the sel/1 represented ro0ghly by the line
dropped /ro- the highest and r0nning thro0gh and per-eating all the planes belo. its
archetypal origin# $ .ish to call to yo0r attention the /act that not -erely lato1 b0t the entire
Bree2 school o/ -ystic philosophies1 spo2e o/ the sel/ as i--anent in 2os-os1 and as a
sacri/ice1 .hich 6hristian -ystics call so-eti-es the @6hrist cr0ci/ied in -atter@; and1 i/ .e
care to -a2e the application to the e3oteric 6hristian religion o/ the doctrine o/ the :ondro0s
%eing .hich .e have been st0dying1 .e shall discover that the .hole 6hristian -ythos or
story .as act0ally dra.n /ro- it1 the entire thing1 and distortedly called the @incarnation o/ the
9ogos#@ $n old Bree2 philosophy1 the .ord logo! .as 0sed in -any .ays1 .hich the
6hristians sadly -is0nderstood# The dhyan'chohan1 o/ .hich .e have spo2en this evening1
is o0r spirit0al logos1 the planetary logos1 !o "ar a! thi! "ourth round i! concerned+ The
spirit0al entity behind the s0n is the solar logos o/ o0r solar syste-# S-all or great as every
solar syste- -ay be1 each has its o.n logos1 the so0rce or /o0ntainhead o/ al-ost
inn0-erable logoi o/ less degree in that syste-# Every -an has his o.n spirit0al logos; every
ato- has its o.n logos; every ato- has its o.n ara-at-an and 70lapra2riti1 /or every
entity every.here has its o.n highest# These things and the .ords .hich e3press the- are
relative# %0l2 and -agnit0de have nothing .hatsoever to do .ith it; it is I0ality1 !%iritual
Hualit&/ .hich is the tr0e criterion# This is a great and 0se/0l thing to re-e-ber# $ have /o0nd
inesti-able help in that one r0le#
:e have only a /e. -in0tes -ore o/ ti-e this evening# $ have been as2ed brie/ly to spea2 o/
another -atter1 and that is in connection .ith the rec0rring cycles o/ the year1 and especially
as regards the &e. Near# A# # %lavats2y so-e.here1 $ thin2 it .as in an old iss0e o/ her
-agaDine<uci"er at the beginning o/ the year o/ 1+9)1 says1 a-ong other things in a very
interesting article1 that theosophists and esotericists partic0larly sho0ld hold the *th day o/
Ean0ary as the beginning o/ the ne. year# &o. that is an e3tre-ely interesting state-ent;
and in general connection .ith it1 $ .ish to call yo0r attention to one very i-portant /act1 .hich
is that the esoteric .isdo- is based entirely on nat0re and her /0nda-ental operations#
&at0re1 as .e 0nderstand that .ord1 does not -ean only the physical1 visible 0niverse# That
is -erely the shell or body o/ nat0re the real# &at0re1 .ith 0s1 -eans the entire aggregate o"
e4er&thing that i!/ in.ards and o0t.ards1 o/ all planes in all spheres thro0gho0t the
%o0ndless#
The signi/icance o/ this in the present connection is that the esoteric -ethod o/ rec2oning
ti-e is a nat0ral -ethod1 based .holly on recondite operations o/ nat0re# $t is not an arti/icial
-ethod# No0 .ill /ind that none o/ the real anniversaries is based on -an'-ade ideas or on
chance1 s0ch as the arti/icial sche-e 0sed by the French d0ring the French Revol0tion; or
dating /ro- the /o0nding o/ a city1 li2e Ro-e; or /ro- the death o/ so-e great -an1 li2e
Ees0s# S0ch -ethods1 as a -atter o/ /act1 are 0n2no.n in the esoteric chronology1 tho0gh
parallels do e3ist1 b0t these are based on nat0ral cycles# The ancient .isdo- bases all its
chronological rec2onings 0pon the 2os-ic cloc2 .hich nat0re gives 0s1 and .hich is -a>estic1
in/allible1 and a per/ect ti-e2eeper# That cloc2 is the heavenly va0lt; and the s0n1 the -oon1
the seven planets !as the ancients rec2oned the-"1 and the stars1 are the @hands@ -ar2ing
ti-e cycles# The year -ostly 0sed in rec2oning ti-e by the ancients is .hat astrono-ers call
the tropical year1 so called /ro- the change o/ the seasons# :inter1 spring1 s0--er1 a0t0-n;
.inter1 spring1 s0--er1 a0t0-n; rec0rring reg0larly; and rec0rring reg0larly beca0se based
on the -ove-ent o/ the earth aro0nd the s0n1 li2e a hand on the dial o/ the 2os-ical cloc2#
The so'called ano-alistic year and the sidereal year .ere both 2no.n to ancient astrono-y1
b0t .ere not 0sed e3cept /or p0rely astrono-ical !not astrological" calc0lations1 or only rarely
/or astrological rec2oning#
7ar2 the di//erence bet.een a!trolog& and a!trono&+ ,strono-y is the science o/ the
-ove-ents1 and the relations to each other1 o/ the stars and planets# That is all# $t si-ply tells
0s .hat they are -ade o/1 .here they -ove1 and .hen they -ove1 and ho. long it ta2es
the- to -ove along certain orbits or paths1 and is p0rely e3oteric# %0t a!trolog&/ -ind yo01
-eans the >!cience o/ the stars@ !.hile a!trono& pro0dly calls itsel/ the>law o/ the stars@"1
>0st as geolog& -eans the >!cience o/ the earth#@ ,ncient astrology ? not the pasteboard'
science .hich passes 0nder that na-e today1 b0t the ancient spirit0al'astral astrology1 a tr0e
and pro/o0nd .isdo- abo0t the evol0tion o/ divinity into and thro0gh -atter1 and abo0t the
h0-an so0l and the h0-an spirit ? ta0ght the science o/ the relations o/ the parts o/ 2os-ic
nat0re a-ong the-selves1 and -ore partic0larly as that science applied to -an and his
destiny as ti-ed by the celestial orbs# Fro- that great and noble science sprang 0p1 as said1
an e3oteric pse0doscience1 derived /ro- the 7editerranean and ,sian practice1 event0ating
in the -odern sche-es o/ so'called astrology ? a poor1 degraded1 and .orn'o0t re-nant o/
ancient .isdo-#
,ll nations had .ays o/ rec2oning the year and /i3ing the beginning o/ the year# &ot all
nations p0t the opening o/ the year at the sa-e date; so-e nations rec2oned /ro- the .inter
solstice1 that is .hen the s0n has attained its so0thern-ost point1 be/ore beginning its slo.
co0rse north.ards again# $ a- spea2ing as an inhabitant o/ the northern he-isphere# 4/
co0rse1 in So0th ,-erica and in other lands belo. the eI0ator1 the conditions are reversed#
%0t no. .e are spea2ing o/ the northern he-isphere# 4ther nations rec2oned the beginning
o/ the year at the s0--er solstice1 abo0t E0ne 21st or 22nd; .hile the .inter solstice ta2es
place on or abo0t =ece-ber 21st# 4ther nations again rec2oned the opening o/ the year at
the spring eI0ino31 7arch 21st or 22nd# 4ther nations began the rec2oning o/ the year at the
a0t0-nal eI0ino31 si3 -onths later1 on Septe-ber 22nd or 23rd# The Ee.s1 /or instance1 had
t.o years5 a civil year1 beginning in Septe-ber at the a0t0-nal eI0ino31 and a religio0s year1
beginning .ith the spring eI0ino3# The ancient Ber-anic nations o/ northern E0rope be/ore
the ti-e o/ 6aesar began the year at the .inter solstice on =ece-ber 21st; the ancient
Bree2s began their year at di//erent ti-es o/ the ann0al cycle1 b0t -ost o/ten1 probably1 in the
a0t0-n; and the ancient Ro-ans began it in the spring# The ancient Egyptians began it in the
s0--er; and the ancient ersians1 and the Syrians1 and other nations1 had each its o.n
period /or opening the year#
The 7editerranean civiliDations .ere already on the do.n.ard path /or -any cent0ries
be/ore .hat in E0rope is pop0larly called the year l ,=# They .ere slo.ly losing a great deal
o/ the ancient .isdo-1 and an 0nderstanding o/ its great secrets1 and it .as sho.n not
-erely in the -anner in .hich the Ele0sinian 7ysteries .ere -odi/ied and changed1 b0t also
in the constant shi/ting and re-odeling o/ their calendars1 and in their -ethods o/ co-p0ting
ti-e1 o/ calc0lating chronological periods1 the beginnings and ends o/ vario0s cycles1 etc# The
Ro-ans .ere partic0larly bla-e.orthy in this regard# They .ere perhaps .orse in that
respect than any other nation 2no.n to 0s# $/ so-e dictator or political chie/tain .ished to
have a /e. days -ore o/ po.er1 or to prevent or to postpone an election1 he .o0ld begin to
-eddle .ith the calendar1 a co0rse o/ cond0ct carried on .ith the connivance or thro0gh the
ignorance or negligence o/ the ponti//s# ,nd so /inally it ca-e abo0t that on acco0nt o/ the
disorder o/ the calendar at the ti-e o/ E0li0s 6aesar ? to be e3act in the year *C'*7 %6 ? the
calends o/ Ean0ary1 that is the /irst day o/ Ean0ary1 /ell on the day o/ the season .hich no.
corresponds to the 13th o/ 4ctober; and i/ the con/0sion had contin0ed inde/initely1 the /irst o/
Ean0ary .o0ld in d0e co0rse have ta2en place in all the -onths o/ the year1 .andering
thro0gh the-1 and /inally co-pleting its co0rse aro0nd the year so-e.here in 7arch1 having
co-pleted the cycle# $t sho0ld be added that the old standard Ro-an year .as l0nar1
consisting o/ abo0t 3(* days#
E0li0s 6aesar deserves credit /or having stopped this con/0sion by his re/or-ation o/ the
Ro-an calendar# $ do not -ean to say that 6aesar did it all hi-sel/# Ae did not; /or tho0gh he
.as a clever -an and an a-ate0r astrono-er1 yet he had the services o/ an Egyptian ? or
,le3andrian Bree2 ? astrono-er1 a -an o/ great ability1 called Sosigenes# $n the year *7 %61
.hen the /irst day o/ Ean0ary /ell on .hat .o0ld no. be the 13th o/ 4ctober ? >0st e3actly as
i/ o0r o.n /irst o/ Ean0ary this year had occ0rred t.o or three -onths be/ore in the late
a0t0-n1 on the !ea!on1da& properly belonging to the 13th o/ 4ctober ? these t.o e-inent
gentle-en1 or perhaps three1 i/ .e incl0de 7# Flavi0s1 p0t their heads together and sh0//led
the calendar into con/or-ity .ith the seasons again# 6aesar .as onti/e3 7a3i-0s at that
ti-e1 and it .as his d0ty to ta2e charge o/ or oversee the correct co-p0ting o/ chronological
periods1 etc# This he did1 inserting t.o e3tra -onths !one to have 33 days and the second 3*
days" bet.een &ove-ber and =ece-ber o/ that year1 *71 and adding an intercalary period or
@-onth@ o/ 23 days to the preceding Febr0ary1 -a2ing an addition o/ 9) days to that year in
order to har-oniDe the calendar .ith the seasons# That year1 then1 .as **( days long; and
beca0se it .as s0ch a long year1 and ordinary people .ere so p0DDled as to the .ay in .hich
b0siness1 etc#1 .as going to be done1 it .as called the Near o/ 6on/0sion1 b0t 7acrobi0s
neatly calls it the @la!t year o/ con/0sion@K Then 6aesar /i3ed the ne. calendar to have a
-ean year o/ 3C( days1 .ith a leap year each /o0rth year o/ 3CC days; an arrange-ent that
has lasted to o0r o.n ti-e in the :est1 b0t slightly -odi/ied# This arrange-ent o/ the
calendar1 o/ co0rse1 abolished the old Ro-an l0nar year# %0t1 i/ he had only beg0n the year
as he sho0ld have done1 according to the ancient rec2onings1 the old rec2oning o/ the
ancient .isdo-1 at the beginning o/ one o/ the /o0r !ea!on! o/ the year and .hen the -oon
.as ne. ? at the .inter solstice1 or1 i/ yo0 please1 at the spring eI0ino31 or the a0t0-nal1 or
the s0--er solstice ? i/ he had ta2en the old beginning o/ the year o/ his o.n people1 the
Ro-ans1 as it had been be/ore in the early days1 that is to say1 on =ece-ber 21st or 22nd at
the .inter solstice1 or at the spring eI0ino3 in 7arch1 o/ &0-a1 everything .o0ld have been
@all right#@
%0t no. -ar2 .hat happened# Ae had Sosigenes .hispering in his ear1 and Sosigenes 2ne.
-ore than 6aesar1 b0t he /orgot one little thing# Ae said ? this is an i-aginary conversation1
b0t so-ething li2e it1 $ thin21 -0st have ta2en place ? @%rother 6aesar1 $-peratorK ,ccording
to the old .ay1 the .ay o/ o0r noble ancestors1 the year o0ght to begin not -erely at the
.inter solstice b0t also at ne. -oon# &o. the ne. -oon this year does not /all on the day
.hen the .inter solstice ta2es place1 b0t it /alls seven days later1 /or the solstice this year
/alls on =ece-ber 2*th#@ @That is right1@ said 6aesar# @:e .ill begin the year seven days later
than the solstice# :e .ill call that day the calends o/ Ean0ary@ ? or1 as .e sho0ld say1 the /irst
o/ Ean0ary# 6aesar -ade =ece-ber to have 3) days; later changed to 31 days# ,nd that is
ho. o0r habit o/ p0tting the beginning o/ the year on the /irst o/ Ean0ary instead o/ on the day
o/ the solstice1 =ece-ber 211 arose# Aad 6aesar !he had it in his po.er to do so as onti/e3
7a3i-0s" proclai-ed in his edict that the calendar as re/or-ed by hi- .o0ld co--ence
r0nning on the /irst occasion .hen the .inter solstice and a ne. -oon coincided; or at one o/
the other three beginnings o/ a season .hich coincided .ith a ne. -oon1 it .o0ld have been
e3actly right1 according to the ancient .isdo-; beca0se1 -ar2 yo01 all these ancient -ethods
o/ chronological rec2oning .ere not based -erely on the /act o/ so-ebody /o0nding a city1 or
on the /act o/ so-ebody happening to die on a certain day1 b0t on coordinated astrono-ical
and terrestrial events# The ancient -ethods .ere based on the ti-e dial o/ the 2os-os#
6aesar sho0ld have .aited till a ne. -oon coincided .ith one o/ the t.o solstices1 or .ith
one o/ the t.o eI0ino3es1 beginning the ne. year at the -o-ent the -oon .as ne. on that
night# Evidently1 6aesar /elt that he co0ld not .ait; or1 perhaps1 did not desire to .ait; or did
not 2now+
&o.1 then1 as ti-e .ent on and 6hristianity in later years ca-e into vog0e1 people nat0rally
2ept the beginning o/ the year as on Ean0ary /irst1 the -onth'day established in the E0lian
calendar# %0t /inally the 6hristians began to thin2 that they o0ght to have their o.n day /or
beginning the ne. year in a religio0s sense1 connected .ith the s0pposed birth o/ Ees0s; and
so1 early in the history o/ 6hristianity1 eastern 6hristians too2 the 12th day a/ter =ece-ber
2(1 the Cth o/ Ean0ary1 in celebration o/ the -ystical epiphany and birth !and baptis-" o/
Ees0s# $t .as1 in a religio0s sense1 the beginning o/ their year# The English call this /estival
T.el/th =ay1 as being the t.el/th day a/ter =ece-ber 2(th# :hat a c0rio0sly con/0sed -ess
o/ ancient ideas and ne. dog-asK Ais @birth day@ .as later trans/erred to =ece-ber 2(#
:hy .as the Cth o/ Ean0ary chosen1 instead o/ the *th; For this reason# The .inter solstice1
.hen 6aesar and Sosigenes -ade their corrections o/ the calendar1 .as -ade to /all on the
2*th o/ =ece-ber# The ne@t new oon /ell1 then1 on the /irst o/ Ean0ary1 .hich .as .hy
6aesar said the ne. year .as to begin on that day1 the calends o/ Ean0ary# Then1 -any
years later1 1* days a/ter the day .hich the 6hristians tho0ght .as the solstice in their ti-e1
=ece-ber 23'2* !=ece-ber then having 31 days and not 3) days1 as arranged by 6aesar"1
.as the si3th o/ Ean0ary1 .hich the 6hristians called the Epiphany1 copying an ancient pagan
.ord and idea# #%i%han& is a 6hristian .ord .hich originally belonged to the 7ysteries o/ the
old pagan Bree2 religion and to the ancient .isdo-; it -eans @appearance@ o/ a god1 and
.as adopted by and adapted to the 6hristos'-ythos#
9et 0s ret0rn to A# # %lavats2y and her article in <uci"er+ :e see that calendars can be
changed; that calendars can be -ade by -en; that the Ro-an calendar .as also changed
and .as -ade by -en; and that the E0lian calendar1 .ith -odi/ications1 has co-e do.n to
0s1 and is the one 0sed in E0rope and ,-erica today# $t is no proper calendar /or esotericists
to 0se in order to co-p0te the esoteric cycles or the beginning o/ the tr0e esoteric year#
:hy did A# # %lavats2y choose the *th o/ Ean0ary o/ the c0rrent calendar /or the beginning
o/ the esoteric year; The tr0e esoteric year sho0ld begin on the 1*th day a/ter the .inter
solstice1 provided that the .inter solstice coincide .ith a ne. -oon# The 1*th day therea/ter1
.o0ld1 o/ co0rse1 be a /0ll'-oon day# The day o/ the .inter solstice co0ld be 0sed as a
beginning o/ the civil year1 i/ so desired; and the 1*th day therea/ter as the beginning o/ the
esoteric year# 6aesar1 had he .ished or1 rather1 had he 2no.n -ore1 co0ld have so arranged
his calendar to /it1 either /or the ne. -oon at a .inter solstice or a s0--er one1 or at one o/
the eI0ino3es# %0t A# # %lavats2y chose Ean0ary *1 beca0se it .as the 1*th day a/ter the
.inter solstice ? not beca0se it .as the *th1 or any other -onth'day#
&o. Ean0ary *th is 1* days a/ter the .inter solstice on =ece-ber 21st1 and .hen coinciding
.ith a /0ll -oon it is an a!trological date+ $t is not a -an'-ade date# $t does not depend 0pon
a -an'-ade calendar# $t /alls /o0rteen days a/ter the /estival o/ the tr0e .inter solstice; and
.hen the .inter solstice also coincides .ith a ne. -oon1 a !ecret c&cle o%en!+ 0t the .inter
solstice .here it belongs1 and ten days .ill bring yo0 to the /irst o/ Ean0ary by o0r present
calendar# &otice the n0-ber ten# A# # %lavats2y also says in her article that the celebration
o/ the ne. year by esotericists sho0ld be in connection .ith the %0dha'.isdo-1 a .ord
co-ing /ro- the sa-e root /ro- .hich %0ddha1 the 9ord Ba0ta-a8s title1 .as ta2en1 the root
-eaning @to a.a2en#@ &o.1 again1 .hat is %0dha1 /ro- the sa-e root; %0dha is the Sans2rit
na-e /or the planet 7erc0ry1 .hich the Bree2s called Aer-es1 and the 9atins 7erc0ri0s1 and
.hich .e1 adopting the 9atin na-e1 call 7erc0ry# Aer-es has al.ays been the partic0lar
overseer o/ -ystics in -any1 perhaps all1 nations# $n ancient Breece1 he .as given the titles
o/ %!&chagog and %!&cho%o%/ -eaning @cond0ctor o/ so0ls@ to the nether .orld1 li2e.ise
the 7ysteries# &o -atter .hat /or- the interpretation o/ the ancient .isdo- -ay have ta2en
in ancient ti-es1 one invariably /inds the planet Aer-es1 or 7erc0ry1 associated closely .ith
the teachings o/ the 7ysteries dealing .ith the a/ter.orld# $n $ndia1 Aer-es .as na-ed
%0dha1 as >0st said; and he .as called the son o/ So-a1 or the 7oon#
For instance1 in Ao-er8s -d&!!e&1 yo0 read ho. Aer-es led the so0ls o/ the dead s0itors1
@gibbering li2e bats1@ to the @-eads o/ asphodel@ !boo2 2*"# This all0sion to the .or2 o/
Aer-es the psychopo-p1 the @helper1@ is a @-ystery@ .hich .as ta2en directly /ro- the
Ele0sinian 7ysteries or1 perhaps1 /ro- still earlier 7ysteries#
7ar2 then1 that o0r ne. year sho0ld begin 1* days a/ter the .inter solstice1 %ro4ided that da&
i! a Mercur&1da&+ &o. ho. are .e going to 2no. .hether it is a 7erc0ry'day or not; There
is the r0b# Aave yo0 any idea ho. the days o/ the .ee2 ca-e to be na-ed in the order that
they no. have1 and have had /or ages1 in -any parts o/ the .orld .idely separated /ro-
each other; :hy one day is called S0n8s day1 and another 7oon8s day1 and another T0esday
? Ti.8s !7ars8s" day; =o yo0 2no. the old ,nglo'Sa3on na-es /or these1 by the .ay;
:odnesdaeg1 :ednesday1 /or 7erc0ry'day; and Frigedaeg1 Friday1 or Fen0s'day;
Th0nresdaeg1 Th0rsday1 or E0piter'day; Saeternesdaeg1 Sat0rday /or Sat0rn8s day1 and so
/orth# The syste- .as as /ollo.s5 the /irst ho0r o/ a day beginning .hen the central point o/
the s0n is on the eastern horiDon o/ that day1 according to the ancient syste-1 .as said to be
0nder the direct r0le o/ one o/ the seven sacred planets# &o. i/ the planet 7erc0ry1 /or
instance1 .as the one in control o/ that /irst ho0r1 the .hole day .hich /ollo.ed that /irst ho0r
.as called 7erc0ry'day# Every s0cceeding ho0r o/ that sa-e day .as said to be 0nder the
control o/ one or the other o/ the seven planets1 /ollo.ing each other in a certain order1 as
/ollo.s5 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 7oon ? the S0n and the 7oon1
ho.ever1 being s0bstit0tes /or t.o secret planets# The day has 2* ho0rs5 beginning .ith
7erc0ry1 /or instance1 and co0nting the seven planets in the order >0st given thro0gh all the
2* ho0rs1 .o0ld bring in the 2(th ho0r1 .hich is the /irst ho0r o/ the ne3t day1 .ith E0piter in
control1 and that day .o0ld then be Th0rsday; and so on thro0gho0t till .e co-e to 7erc0ry
again ? one .ee2 o/ seven days# No0 can easily prove this /or yo0rsel/# ,s regards the real
esoteric %0dha'day1 or :ednesday1 or 7erc0ry'day1 $ say here only this5 i/ the .inter solstice
is coincident .ith a ne. -oon1%lu! !oething el!e/ that da& i! a real a!trological 9udha1
da&8 and1 o/ co0rse1 1* days later1 or t.o .ee2s1 is li2e.ise a %0dha'day1 6ut at "ull
oon+ Ferb# sap#K
&o. let 0s go another step /arther# The *th o/ Ean0ary1 1+9)1 /ell on a Sat0rday1 altho0gh A#
# %lavats2y in that article had been spea2ing o/ Aer-es# %0t that .as -erely beca0se she
o/ necessity 0sed the .ee2'na-es and -onth'days o/ the c0rrent calendar1 spoiled and
0ngeared as it is# So it is per/ectly obvio0s that the year she is all0ding to .as the esoteric
astrological year1 and not the pop0lar one o/ the c0rrent calendar# This -anner1 above given1
o/ co-p0ting cycles o/ ti-e1 /ollo.ing the ho0r o/ the 2os-ical cloc21 is the one that .as
al.ays /ollo.ed in the ancient .isdo-# They re>ected any other .ay1 beca0se it is the
-ethod or the .ay in .hich nat0re hersel/ .or2s in the ro0nds1 in the races1 in the 2alpas1
etc#
hapter Nineteen
The Seven Ee.els and the Seven Stages o/ $nitiation#
These ortals lead the aspirant across the .aters on @to the other shore#@
Each ortal hath a golden 2ey that openeth its gate; and these 2eys are5 ?
1# =,&,1 the 2ey o/ charity and love i--ortal#
2# SA$9,1 the 2ey o/ Aar-ony in .ord and act1 the 2ey that co0nterbalances the ca0se
and the e//ect1 and leaves no /0rther roo- /or <ar-ic action#
3# <SA,&T$1 patience s.eet1 that no0ght can r0//le#
*# F$R,B1 indi//erence to pleas0re and to pain1 ill0sion conI0ered1 tr0th alone perceived#
(# F$RN,1 the da0ntless energy that /ights its .ay to the s0pernal TRUTA1 o0t o/ the -ire
o/ lies terrestrial#
C# =AN,&,1 .hose golden gate once opened leads the &ar>ol L&al>orM to.ard the real- o/
Sat eternal and its ceaseless conte-plation#
7# R,E&,1 the 2ey to .hich -a2es o/ a -an a god1 creating hi- a %odhisattva1 son o/
the =hyanis#
S0ch to the ortals are the golden 2eys# ? A# # %lavats2y1 The :oice o" the Silence/ pp#
*7'+
TAE 7,$& te3t that .e shall have to consider this evening is that on page 2)7 o/ vol0-e $
o/ The Secret Doctrine/ .hich has already been read t.ice1 the part dealing .ith the @ever'
living'h0-an'%anyan#@ ,s o0r st0dies .ill also incl0de a paragraph on page *2* o/ the sa-e
vol0-e1 this latter $ shall read# $t opens section 3ii1 @The Theogony o/ the 6reative Bods@5
To thoro0ghly co-prehend the idea 0nderlying every ancient cos-ology necessitates the
st0dy1 in a co-parative analysis1 o/ all the great religions o/ antiI0ity; as it is only by this
-ethod that the root idea .ill be -ade plain# E3act science ? co0ld the latter soar so high1
.hile tracing the operations o/ nat0re to their 0lti-ate and original so0rces ? .o0ld call
this idea the hierarchy o/ Forces# The original1 transcendental and philosophical
conception .as one# %0t as syste-s began to re/lect .ith every age -ore and -ore the
idiosyncrasies o/ nations; and as the latter1 a/ter separating1 settled into distinct gro0ps1
each evolving along its o.n national or tribal groove1 the -ain idea grad0ally beca-e
veiled .ith the overgro.th o/ h0-an /ancy# :hile in so-e co0ntries the F4R6ES1 or
rather the intelligent o.ers o/ nat0re1 received divine hono0rs they .ere hardly entitled
to1 in others ? as no. in E0rope and the ci4ili=edlands ? the very tho0ght o/ any s0ch
Force being endo.ed .ith intelligence see-s abs0rd1 and is proclai-ed un!cienti"ic#
&o. then1 /irst1 has it ever occ0rred to 0s to consider1 to as21 .hy the doctrines .hich .e
have been st0dying /or the past -onths have al.ays been held so secret; There are three
general reasons /or this1 t.o rather1 the third being a corollary o/ the second# The /irst is that
these teachings have /ro- ti-e i--e-orial been considered the noble re.ard1 the s0bli-e
re.ard1 /or those .ho give the-selves heart and so0l and irretrievably to the Teachers and
to the terrestrial'celestial body that they represent# That is the less reason /or the silence#
The greater is the /ollo.ing1 that these doctrines /ro- their very nat0re being so abstr0se1 so
s0btil that o0r poor -inds o/ -atter /ind di//ic0lty in co-prehending the-1 .o0ld al-ost o/
necessity be -is0nderstood .itho0t a preli-inary training and ed0cation# $t reI0ires literally
years o/ st0dy and training to bring the -ind into s0ch a state that it can receive these
glorio0s teachings1 these s0bli-e doctrines that .e have been st0dying1 .ith so-e -odic0-
at least o/ intelligent co-prehension# $/ they .ere given o0t to the .orld indiscri-inately1 .hat
.o0ld be the conseI0ence; $nt0itive b0t other.ise 0ntrained -inds .o0ld .orship the
Teachers1 7asters1 as gods; or the st0pid heads in the -0ltit0des .o0ld persec0te the- and
try to do the- to death as @devils1@ .ere they to appear p0blicly and openly live a-ong -en#
,nd a third party o/ the p0blic1 the s2eptics1 .o0ld deride1 .o0ld -oc21 not only the Teachers
the-selves b0t their holy -essage#
These r0les o/ secrecy are based on nat0ral la.1 and on a 2een 0nderstanding o/ the
.or2ings o/ the h0-an -ind# These doctrines .ere /or-0lated in the da.n o/ ti-e by giant
intellects1 and by godli2e -inds# Ae indeed -0st be blind and perverse o/ .ill .ho can loo2
0pon the- a/ter st0dy and close e3a-ination as spec0lations or as -ere theoriDings# :hat a
co-pli-ent .as paid to A# # %lavats2y by those .ho in their blind ignorance said that she
had invented the-K Thin2 o/ .hat that -eans1 .hat a .onder/0l .o-an1 according to the-1
she -0st have beenK ,nd obvio0sly1 the tr0th is the direct contrary# =id she ever clai- that
they .ere originated and /or-0lated by her; &o; /ro- the beginning she said5 @$ a- b0t a
voice spea2ing /or Those .ho sent -e#@
These reservations o/ secrecy1 ca0tion1 and pr0dence1 are not the sing0lar and other.ise
0n2no.n r0le o/ the trans'Ai-alayan school to .hich .e belong# They .ere the invariable
r0le o/ all the great 7ystery Schools o/ past ti-es# Even in the latest o/ the e3oteric /aiths1 in
the 6hristian religion1 yo0 /ind the sa-e thing1 and conceived in .ords1 by the .ay1 .hich are
as 0n2ind as it is possible to p0t the- in ? al-ost cr0el in the ha0ghty reserve that they
signi/y# Net they are not so .hen properly 0nderstood# $ re/er to certain .arnings 0ttered by
the -ythical Ees0s in the Ser-on on the 7o0nt; and re-e-ber1 that Ser-on is pre/aced by
the .ords o/ e3planation that he .ent 0p onto a hill in order to escape /ro- the cro.ds
thronging and pressing hi-1 .hen he then called his disciples and delivered 0nto the- the
so'called Ser-on on the 7o0nt1 e4identl& a M&!ter&1teaching+ 7ore o/ this hid -eaning .e
shall point o0t this evening# %0t here are the .ords5
Bive not that .hich is holy 0nto the dogs1 neither cast ye yo0r pearls be/ore the s.ine1
lest haply they tra-ple the- 0nder their /eet1 and t0rn again and rend yo0#
,s21 and it shall be given yo0; see21 and ye shall /ind; 2noc21 and it shall be opened 0nto
yo05 For every one that as2eth receiveth; and he that see2eth /indeth; and to hi- that
2noc2eth it shall be opened# ? 7atthe.1 75C'+
$t is e3tre-ely do0bt/0l i/ the real Ees0s1 the center aro0nd .ho- .ere collected the legends
o/ the 7ystery'/ig0re Ees0s1 ever 0sed lang0age o/ that 2ind; b0t it represents the spirit o/
esotericis- and is a tr0e echo o/ the esoteric -ethods o/ the &ear East1 leaving the
/ra-e.or2 o/ the .ords aside# $t sho.s the i--ense pr0dence and ca0tion that al.ays
s0rro0nded the giving o0t o/ any part o/ the ancient 7ystery'teachings# Fro- i--e-orial
ti-e .as it al.ays so#
,nd1 another thing# The penalty /or betrayal o/ the 7ysteries1 in later ti-es1 .as death# &ever
in any circ0-stances has the po.er or the /orce o/ the 9odge1 has the hand o/ a Teacher1
been raised in violence or in hatred against a betrayer1 against the 0n/aith/0l1 no -atter ho.
grave the cri-e -ight have been# Their p0nish-ent .as in this5 they .ere le"t !trictl& to
the!el4e!8 and the inner penalty wa! the withdrawal o" the Deathle!! 7atcher/ the higher
!el" within1 .hich had been conscio0sly and s0ccess/0lly invo2ed 0pon entrance into the
7ysteries1 and in the higher degrees o/ initiation had been /aced1 literally /ace to /ace# The
early and a0to-atic penalty .as inner death by the so0l'loss# The 6etra&er lo!t hi! !oul+ 9et
-e tell yo0 /0rther1 in passing1 that practically all the civil instit0tions o/ ancient ti-es1
p0nish-ents a-ong others1 .ere based 0pon .hat too2 place in the 7ystery Schools# S0ch1
/or instance1 .as the cr0ci/i3ion o/ the Ro-ans1 ta2en direct /ro- one o/ the cere-onies o/
initiation1 the @-ystic death@; ta2en /ro- it1 stolen /ro- it1 and -ade an instr0-ent o/ legal
-0rder by the State in later1 degenerate ti-es# ,nother instance1 also ta2en /ro- the
cere-ony o/ the -ystic death .as the @c0p1@ in $ndia the So-a dra/t# $n Breece .e /ind
Socrates p0nished by drin2ing /ro- the c0p o/ he-loc2; and .e are re-inded o/ Ees0s1
praying that the @c0p@ -ight pass /ro- hi-# &0-ero0s other very di//erent instances co0ld be
cited#
Si-ilarly in Egypt and in other co0ntries1 .hen the periods o/ spirit0al barrenness1 o/ .hich
lato tells 0s1 had s0cceeded the periods o/ spirit0al /ertility; .hen those periods ca-e 0pon
the .orld the State then 0ndertoo2 to p0nish in its o.n na-e the betrayal o/ the 7ysteries1
.hich by those ti-es had beco-e -erely a State instit0tion and nothing -0ch else1 -erely a
part o/ the religio0s establish-ent# T.o or three instances have co-e do.n to 0s so /ar as
,thens in Breece alone is concerned# 4ne .as Socrates1 (th'*th cent0ry %61 .ho
0n.ittingly betrayed so-e o/ the secrets o/ the 7ysteries; and despite his innocence o/
conscio0s .rongdoing1 they 0n.illingly 2illed that great -an# ,nother .as the philosopher'
poet =iagoras1 (th cent0ry %61 .ho .as acc0sed o/ i-piety1 o/ so'called atheis-1 and .ho
/led /ro- ,thens# , third .as the dra-atist'poet ,eschyl0s1 (th cent0ry %61 .ho had to /lee
to $taly in order to escape death# Ae .as acc0sed on the sa-e gro0nds1 o/ .hat .as called
pro/anation or i-piety#
,nother instance .hich .e -ight -ention1 o/ a I0ite di//erent type1 is that o/ the .earing o/ a
cro.n or a diade- by civil r0lers1 /or-ally enacted in the coronation o/ a 2ing ? a cere-ony
adopted /ro- the 7ysteries# So-e o/ the earliest cro.ns .hich they .ore had o0tstanding
spi2es1 re-inding one o/ the cro.n o/ thorns o/ Ees0s; or it -ay have been in the /or- o/ the
Bree2 diade-1 representing1 in Breece1 the cro.n o/ the central and .est and north.est
parts o/ E0rope# ,s >0st hinted1 this also .as a sy-bol o/ one o/ the cere-onies o/ one o/ the
stages o/ initiations1 a cere-ony signi/ying .hat occ0rred .hen the one 0ndergoing trial .as
in a state o/ !aadhi/ as the Aind0s say1 and his head .as s0rro0nded .ith a glory or a0ra
radiating /ro- the brain li2e the spi2es o/ the early cro.n1 in .hich state1 also1 a ni-b0s or
a0ra s0rro0nded the body as .ell as the head1 b0t /ar less strongly#
&o. .e e-bar2 -ore partic0larly 0pon o0r -ain the-e# $t .ill be recalled that .e have been
st0dying /ro- the ti-e these -eetings .ere ina0g0rated abo0t a year ago the so'called
seven treas0res or >e.els1 and .e are no. st0dying certain aspects o/ the seventh or
highest1 -ore especially in its relation to the :ondro0s %eing1 called the Breat $nitiator1 the
9onely :atcher1 the Silent :itness1 and by other s0ch na-es# ,nd .e called attention last
.ee2 to certain o/ the analogies .hich o0r o.n h0-an li/e bore to the 2os-ic :ondro0s
%eing ? /or instance1 partic0larly the analogy o/ the in/initesi-als1 the lives in/initesi-al1 living
in and 0pon the 2os-oi or 0niverses co-prised in o0r o.n physical body1 the ato-ic
in/initesi-als1 and ho. o0r personal sel/ .as the s0pre-e sel/ o/ that host o/ those al-ost
inn0-erable ato-s; that it .as the sel/ .hich held that in/initesi-ally i--ense 2os-os
together1 and per-eated all in it1 and reached thro0gh all in it1 li2e a -ystic /ire# ,nd .e also
pointed o0t ho.1 nevertheless1 each one o/ those ato-s1 being a 0niverse in itsel/1 had its
o.n entire hierarchy1 its o.n series o/ ten degrees or stages1 co0nting /ro- its o.n s0pre-e1
its o.n arabrah-an and 70lapra2riti1 do.n to its o.n @absol0te -atter#@
Si-ilarly1 o0r o.n 0niversal 2os-os can be considered as an i-bodied so0l or rather sel/1
-ade 0p o/ al-ost inn0-erable 2os-ic ato-s or solar and planetary bodies1 living .ith
n0-berless co-panions on the /ace o/ the %o0ndless# :e began to have so-e intelligent
co-prehension /ro- this st0dy o/ the sel/1 ho.1 in a sense1 the 4ne -ight beco-e the -any1
yet re-aining /orever the 4ne1 -erely calling it the 4ne beca0se it is the s0--it or SE9F o/
that -ost great hierarchy .hich o0r i-aginations can attain to# %0t beyond its bo0ndaries
there are inn0-erable other s0ch 4nes1 and beyond all s0ch 4nes1 there are inn0-erable
hosts o/ in/initely greater 4nes; and so ad in/init0-K The best .ay by .hich to represent the
%o0ndless1 in .hich they all -ove and live and have their being1 is by the age'old sy-bol o/
the Dero ? li-itless bo0ndlessness#
That sy-bol is re-ar2able also in another respect1 that it so clearly and bea0ti/0lly
e3e-pli/ies the teaching o/ the Foid1 the E-ptiness1 called in %0ddhis- !un&ata1 -eaning
the @e-pty1@ the @void#@ $t is really e3traordinary ho. o0r :estern scholars .ill -is0nderstand
and there/ore -isrepresent these things# They are s0ch literalists that they .ill ta2e a .ord
and drive that .ord to literal death# They ta2e the /or- o/ the tho0ght1 the body1 and see little
or nothing o/ the so0l behind it# They see- to have no realiDation o/ the -ystic -eaning
behind this .ondro0s tho0ght1 the Foid1 the E-ptiness#
=o yo0 re-e-ber that in a /or-er st0dy .e spo2e o/ a -edieval -ystic1 %ernard o/ 6lairva03
in France1 .ho said that the state a st0dent o/ -ysticis- sho0ld aspire to .as that
o/ e%t&ing hi-sel/1 0tterly casting o0t everything that .as personal or li-iting1 everything
that .as bo0nd and /inite; S0ch a state o/ -ind lets the /ree .inds o/ in/inity blo. thro0gh
one1 as it .ereK
9et 0s pa0se a -o-ent over this# The Foid is a sy-bol o/ the %o0ndless; hence1 it is
everything 6ecau!e it is no thing# @&o'thing1@ i/ yo0 li2e# &ot @nothing@ in the 6hristian
theological sense1 b0t no thing1 no -ani/estation# $t is not a conscio0sness1 beca0se it is all
con!ciou!ne!!/ .hich is 0nconscio0sness in every personal and li-ited sense;
conscio0sness is a h0-an ter-# Net it is not 0nconscio0sness1 beca0se it is all
0nconscio0sness o/ any personal or li-ited sense1 and 0nconscio0sness is a h0-an ter-# $t
is both the li-ited and the illi-itable ti-e1 and eternity; everything and there/ore no thing# 6all
it by anything and yo0 li-it it# $t is that .hich $S and :,S and in the 0tter eternity ever shall
%E# ,nd beca0se it is nothing /inite1 beca0se it is not a thing1 beca0se it is not one1 or t.o1 or
three1 b0t beyond all n0-eration; beca0se it is beyond all h0-an tho0ght and si-ilit0de and
co-parison and e3pression1 it is called that .hich the h0-an -ind reaches .hen it opens to
its 0t-ost /or an abstraction1 the Foid1 .hich is li2e.ise 0tter F0llness#
40r st0dy this evening calls to 0s to -ove /or.ard# Each one o/ o0r st0dies lately has been
dealing .ith very di//ic0lt s0b>ects; and each one1 i/ properly 0nderstood1 -eans a great stride
/or.ard /or 0s along the esoteric path# Tonight1 let 0s be -ore partic0lar in o0r re-ar2s#
These seven treas0res1 then1 represent in doctrinal /or- the seven stages o/ initiation# :e
are told that there are ten stages or degrees o/ initiation1 .hich -eans that there are three
-ore than the above na-ed seven o/ these treas0res# %0t .e need not consider these three
others# They are 0tterly beyond o0r capacity# They belong1 .e are told1 to beings .ho have
advanced so /ar beyond 0s that they can no longer tr0ly be called h0-an entities1 altho0gh
they do belong to o0r planetary chain by reason o/ past evol0tionary 2ar-a#
Each stage or degree o/ initiation a/ter the third o/ the seven1 .e are ta0ght1 is -ar2ed by
so-ething -ore than teaching# The /irst three initiations1 or stages or degrees in initiation1
are co-posed o/ teachings# :ith the /o0rth degree1 there begins another -ethod# :hat is
this -ethod;
$t is one o/ the /0nda-ental teachings o/ occ0ltis- that nothing can betrul& 2nown .hich is
not e@%erienced/ li4ed through+ ,s a -atter o/ /act1 .e all 2no. this1 as it is co--on
e3perience# 4ne o/ the so'called la.s o/ o0r being1 one o/ the /0nda-ental conditions o/ o0r
h0-an nat0re is this1 that thoro0ghly to 2no. a thing1 thoro0ghly to enter into it1 thoro0ghly to
0nderstand it1 yo0 -0st 6e it/ yo0 -0st 6ecoe it+ No0 cannot tread the ath 0ntil yo0
beco-e and are that ath# Th0s1 there/ore1 the di//erent stages or degrees o/ initiation are
really a 2ind o/ /orcing'process /or certain chosen spirits1 certain chosen so0ls1 .ho have
proved the-selves .orthy5 a @/orcing@ or developing'process enabling the- thro0gh act0al
e3perience1 individ0al e3perience1 to pass thro0gh and realiDe the hid secrets o/ being .hich
the slo. processes o/ evol0tionary develop-ent .o0ld have bro0ght to the- as the ages
rolled by# $t is1 in /act1 a I0ic2ening or a.a2ening o/ the -an to inner 2no.ledge and po.er#
These di//erent stages or degrees o/ initiation are -ar2ed by preparatory p0ri/ications1 /irst#
Then ca-e the @death1@ a -ystic death# The body and lo.er principles1 so to say1 are
paralyDed1 and the so0l is te-porarily /reed# ,nd1 to a certain e3tent1 the /reed inner -an is
g0ided and directed and helped by the initiators .hile it passes into other spheres and to
other planes and learns the nat0re o/ these 6& 6ecoing the1 .hich is the only .ay by
.hich 2no.ledge thereo/ roots itsel/ into the so0l1 into the ego5 by 6ecoing the thing+
The initiant is one 0ndergoing initiation ? and re-e-ber that initiation -eans @beginning@; an
initiant is a @beginner1@ .hile a person initiated1 an initiate1 is one .ho has beg0n an
0nderta2ing# lease also note that adept -eans one .ho is @s2illed@; hence1 even in o0r
ordinary li/e1 a che-ist1 a physician1 a theologian1 a -echanic1 an engineer1 a teacher o/
lang0ages1 an astrono-er1 are all @adepts1@ persons .ho are s2illed1 each in his o.n
pro/ession# Those t.o .ords have1 generally spea2ing1 the sa-e -eaning also in the
Esoteric School5 an ,dept is one .ho is s2illed in the esoteric .isdo-1 in the teachings o/ li/e;
and an initiant is one .ho is beginning to learn the-# To say that yo0 and $ are beginners1
i#e#1 initiants1 is -erely stating the obvio0s tr0th# $t is li2e.ise a convenient .ord1 /or it tells
yo0 nothing de/inite as to degree or stage; it is a generaliDation# Aence one co0ld properly
as25 @beginning .here and .hat;@ $ -ay be at the botto- r0ng o/ the ladder o/ initiation1 and
yo0 -ay be at the top; yet each one o/ 0s is 6eginning1 /or progress is endless#
9et 0s then closely e3a-ine all these or any other si-ilar state-ents1 /or o0r o.n sa2es# :e
are ta0ght strictly to e3a-ine1 strictly to search into1 everything that is told 0s; to a.a2en
o0rselves to the reali=ation o" thing!1 to li4e the li"e1 to 6e it1 to 6ecoe it; /or s0ch is the old
teaching o/ 0nco0nted ages gone by#
&o. the passage /ro- The Secret Doctrine to .hich .e have all0ded this evening and .hich
/or-s o0r -ain the-e at present1 in .hich A# # %lavats2y spea2s o/ the @ever'living'h0-an'
%anyan1@ re/ers also to thearhat! !a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @.orthies@" .ho belong to the
seventh r0ng o/ the spirit0al'psychological hierarchy1 being only one re-ove /ro- the root'
base o/ their hierarchy1 .hich is the :ondro0s %eing o/ o0r present st0dy1 there/ore on the
eighth plane o/ the ten co-posing that hierarchy# There is a still greater and -ore :ondro0s
%eing on the ninth plane; the highest o/ all1 the s0--it o/ all1 is on the tenth#
9et 0s -a2e a step still /arther /or.ard# :e are ta0ght that at the /i/th initiation1 part o/ the
.onder/0l e3perience that the initiant o/ that degree -0st go thro0gh is that1 a/ter d0e and
s0//icient preparation and p0ri/ication o/ the lo.er sel/ and o/ the so0l .ithin1 the one 0nder
trial in the -ystic path -eets his higher sel/1 his o.n inner god1 /ace to /ace /or @a passing
-o-ent#@ :oe 0nto hi- i/ there be anything in hi- .hich cannot s0pport the trialK The
.arnings given to 0s in this respect are sole-n indeed# The =eathless :atcher 2no.s all1
and accepts no e3c0ses# Those .ho /ail have indeed another chance in another li/e1 or in
other lives; b0t no base -etal either no. or then can be accepted in this dread test# The
inner nat0re -0st be p0re gold tried in the /ire1 nothing co0nter/eit1 nothing that is .ea2 and
.ill brea2 or /ail .hen the test co-es 0pon it# No0 -0st then be /0lly ready to ta2e yo0r place
in the B0ardian :all; no .ea2ling can stand there#
:e are /0rther told that in the si3th degree1 instead o/ one8s o.n higher sel/1 the initiant -eets
another 4ne1 a -atter .hich .e .ill tonight pass over in silence# ,nd in the seventh degree1
the sa-e proceeding ta2es place as part o/ the -ystic death1 and the aspirant ? can .e say
@-eets /ace to /ace@; no1 he 6ecoe! "or a %a!!ing oent the 7ondrou! 7atcher
hi!el"8 and either ret0rns a-ong -en as a ''''''1 or vanishes and is seen no -ore# $n the
/or-er case1 he 2now!/ beca0se he has6ecoeJ
:e have spo2en tonight o/ the 6hristian -ythos# :e deliberately have chosen this ter-1 /or
tr0ly it is a -ythos# The entire story o/ Ees0s as it is given in the so'called Bospels is a
7ystery'story# &o s0ch -an or being as the Ees0s o/ the Bospels ever lived# Re-e-ber
.hat a -ythos is# $t is a tale or allegory i-bodying so-e secret tr0th# $n this case1 it is the
story o/ the 7ysteries partly told in sy-bol and allegory1 partly told .ith so-e degree o/ later
ignorant e-broidery; b0t1 as a .hole1 representing al-ost1 as it .ere pict0ring1 .hat too2
place in the 7ysteries o/ ,sia 7inor# The -anner and style o/ narrative1 in all s0ch cases1
depended 0pon the national c0sto- o/ celebrating the-1 and on the cast o/ -ind o/ the
peoples a-ong .ho- s0ch or another sche-e or syste- o/ initiation prevailed# %0t the
Ees0s o/ the Bospels is a 7ystery'/ig0re only5 a co-posite /ig0re based on -ystical teaching#
Undo0btedly there did e3ist a yo0ng Syrian initiate o/ that ti-e1 aro0nd .ho- .ere gro0ped
these vario0s tales and stories ta2en -ore or less bodily /ro- the 7ystery Schools o/ ,sia
7inor and especially o/ ,le3andria; beca0se ,le3andrian -ysticis- is the -ain origin o/
theological 6hristianity1 /or in that city it had its rise theologically# This Syrian initiate1 probably
a yo0ng Ee.ish rabbi1 .as possibly act0ally called Nesh0a1 $eso0s in Bree21 Ees0s in 9atin#
The Aebre. .ord &e!huaI itsel/ -eans @savior1@ and the later 6hristians o/ co0rse seiDed
0pon this na-e ? or later con/erred it 0pon their s0pposed /o0nder ? and .ove a -ystical
tale abo0t his na-e1 th0s sy-boliDing his -ission on earth as a @savior#@ :e all 2no. the
6hristian tale# %0t /ro- the very beginning o/ it as the Bospels give it5 /ro- the story o/ the
7agi /ollo.ing the star1 to the &!tical death 6& cruci"i@ion1 and the ri!ing again on the third
da& "ro the to61 it is nothing b0t a copy1 -ore or less denat0red and /aded and poorly
.oven together1 o/ great act0al 7ysteries1 the 7ysteries o/ !oe o/ the cere-onies o/
initiation1 o/ .hich the earliest 6hristians certainly had so-e 2no.ledge !see 4rigen and
6le-ent o/ ,le3andria1 /or instance"# %0t the story in its vario0s i-per/ections sho.s clearly
that it is only a /eebly constr0cted allegory1 or -ythos1 o/ act0al initiatory occ0rrences#
,polloni0s o/ Tyana1 the Bree21 .as probably as noble a character as .as the Syrian
Nesh0a1 or Ees0s# Ees0s is -erely the Ro-an /or- o/ the na-e# :e read o/ the -arvels o/
,polloni0s o/ Tyana1 o/ his .or2s and li/e1 in the -ystic @9i/e@ .ritten by hilostrat0s# %0t
,polloni0s is ahi!torical character1 and Ees0s is not# The story o/ ,polloni0s is an interesting
one# :e read o/ his @vanishing a.ay@ be/ore =o-itian1 .hen he .as on trial be/ore that
eccentric and severe -onarch; and -0ch -ore# :hy .as it that Ees0s .as said to have
been @cr0ci/ied@; %0t he .as not act0ally cr0ci/ied# $t is a 7ystery'story1 as $ have said; and
not necessarily a Ee.ish 7ystery'story1 nor a Bree2 7ystery'story# Each nation had its o.n
7ysteries1 greatly rese-bling one another1 b0t varying in detail; b0t in all1 there .as al.ays
the @-ystical death@; there .as al.ays the @descent into hades@ or @hell@; there .as al.ays
the @res0rrection1@ the rising1 0s0ally a/ter @three days@; and the @glori/ication@ at the end o/ the
trial#
Fery -any o/ the things that occ0rred in the 7ysteries .ere ta2en over into civil /0nctions o/
the State1 and they th0s /or-ed the types o/ -any instit0tions in civil li/e in ancient ti-es# The
2ing and his -inisters or servants1 as o//icers or /0nctionaries o/ the State1 .ere ta2en over
/ro- the ancient 7ysteries1 as copies o/ the teacher and his disciples or o//icials# This is one
reason !o/ t.o reasons" .hy the ancients .rote o/ their divine dynasties o/ pri-eval ti-es;
and on this also .as originally /o0nded the idea o/ the @divine right o/ 2ings@ ? in later ages so
greatly -is0nderstood and ab0sed# :hy1 the very calendars o/ the ancient nations .ere
based 0pon the sa-e thing5 they .ere derived1 ta2en over1 /ro- the 7ysteries# 4riginally1
they .ere based on act0al astrological tr0ths1 real 2no.ledge o/ ti-e periods; and later .ere
-is0nderstood and -isapplied#
For instance1 have yo0 realiDed that the 6hristian co--e-orative holy days o/ Bood Friday1
and Easter three days later1 are practically the sa-e thing as the .inter solstice o/ =ece-ber
21'221 and 6hrist-as1 =ece-ber 2(1 three days later; %oth are based on the sa-e original
idea o/ the -ystic death1 and the birth or res0rrection three days later o/ the @0nconI0ered
S0n1@ e3e-pli/ied in the @death@ and @res0rrection@ o/ the s0ccess/0l neophyte in the
7ysteries three days laterK :hy .as it1 $ as2 yo01 that the 6hristians adopted both the ancient
pagan /estival o/ the .inter solstice1 and the ancient pagan res0rrection'-ythos1 and -ade
an Easter o0t o/ the latter ? one being the alleged anniversary o/ their Ees0s8 birth
!6hrist-as"1 and the latter the anniversary o/ his @res0rrection@; %eca0se they .anted very
-0ch to connect and bind together their ne./angled religion .ith the personality o/ the great
Ee.ish prophet or initiate later called Ees0s; and1 at the sa-e ti-e1 to connect hi- .ith the
archaic 7ystery'teachings o/ the School o/ :isdo-# &o.1 as the Ee.ish or rather Syrian
/estival too2 place in the -onth o/ the spring eI0ino31 or rather on the da& o" the "ull
oon /ollo.ing the spring eI0ino31 they copied the ancient 7ysteries again here1 as /ollo.s5
they1 as it .ere1 severed the sy-bol into t.o parts1 and called one 6hrist-as1
co--e-orating the birth o/ the physical body o/ their s0pposed Ees0s; and the other part
they called res0rrection1 or Easter1 co--e-orating the @birth@ o/ the transcending 6hristos# $t
.as a c0rio0s tour de "orce/ as the French say1 a c0rio0s /eat o/ @-ystical gy-nastics1@ as
<atherine Tingley so neatly p0ts it# %0t1 and please -ar2 this1 these t.o dates .ere act0ally
in very tr0th closely connected in the ancient 7ysteries1 and very -0ch in the line the
6hristians /ollo.edK
&o.1 i/ yo0 ta2e the -ystic calendar that g0ardedly .e spo2e o/ last .ee21 it is re-ar2able
ho. it /its in .ith the 7ystery'teachings connected .ith this :ondro0s %eing1 the Breat
$nitiator# ,s to the article in <uci"er!Ean0ary 1+9)" re/erred to1 in .hich A# # %lavats2y
spea2s o/ the date .hich the esotericists sho0ld call the &e. Near1 i#e#1 Ean0ary *th ? does
anyone really thin2 that she -eant that Ean0ary *th per se has any especially -agical or
-ystical properties or in/l0ences; &o; she did not# 40r calendar'day /or Ean0ary *th is a date
o/ a p0rely -echanical calendar1 .ith nothing -ystical or hid in it at all# $/ .e .ere to /all into
a period o/ 0niversal ignorance s0ch as the 7editerranean nations /ell into a/ter 6hristianity
beca-e po.er/0l1 .e sho0ld /orget even ho. to ta2e care o/ o0r -erely -echanical
calendar1 and /ind o0rselves 0nable to -a2e it con/or- to the changing seasons# :e sho0ld
then be in the sa-e tro0bled case as the E0ropean peoples .ere in1 in the si3teenth cent0ry1
.hen ope Bregory P$$$ had certain conte-porary -athe-aticians re/or- the old E0lian
calendar beca0se o/ the disorder it had /allen into thro0gh the p0re ignorance o/ Bregory8s
predecessors# They did not 2no. ho. to intercalate the necessary days at the proper ti-e1
and in Febr0ary 1(+21 .hen the E0lian calendar .as re/or-ed by apal %0ll or Edict1 they
.ere eleven to t.elve days behind the tr0e year# Si-ilar .as the case .hen E0li0s 6aesar
re/or-ed the calendar in the year *7 %61 only -0ch .orse1 /or o.ing to political
-achinations1 do0btless1 o/ the di//erent onti/ices 7a3i-i1 the calendar o/ the Ro-ans1 as $
re-ar2ed last .ee21 had /allen so /ar behind the nat0ral year o/ the seasons that the
calendar Ean0ary the /irst /ell on .hat .as really 4ctober 13th1 according to nat0re; and the
calendar .inter solstice1 =ece-ber 21st or 22nd1 /ell on 4ctober 3rd1 or thereabo0ts; and i/
6aesar had not corrected the gro.ing disorder and con/0sion1 the constant loss o/ the days
thro0gh .rong or o-itted intercalations .o0ld have let the calendar year /all contin0ally
bac2.ards all thro0gh the nat0ral year1 perhaps# So yo0 see that .hen spea2ing o/ A# #
%lavats2y and the astrological calendar1 -ost certainly .e do not -ean -erely the
-echanical calendar o/ co--on 0se; nor did A# # %lavats2y -ean it# %0t she -eant a date
depending 0pon real astrological /acts#
Re-e-ber that astrono-y is -erely the -echanical aspect o/ tr0e1 ancient astrology and1 /or
that reason1 astrono-y deals only .ith the positions1 -ove-ents1 and physical conceptions
o/ planetary and solar and stellar bodies# $t is in real /act -erely one branch o/ the ancient
astrology1 a s0bli-e science o/ the celestial bodies1 and .e do not ean .hat -odern
.riters -iscall astrology ? a paper'science at best# :e have spo2en s0//iciently strongly
against s0ch a -isconception at other -eetings#
&o. o0r real year1 o0r -ystic year1 is I0ite a di//erent one /ro- the civil or ordinary
chronological year# The civil chronological year co0ld begin on the tr0e date o/ the .inter
solstice1 that is to say1 on the day and -o-ent .hen the s0n is /arthest so0th1 and >0st as it
begins its >o0rney north.ards again# That is one o/ the nat0ral periods o/ ti-e and season
division; and it is also an astrological ti-e period1 i/ .e .ish to /or- a ti-e cycle1 b0t .ith one
i-portant change# &o. .hat .o0ld be that astrological cycle; :e co0ld start o0r civil year at
the .inter solstice when the oon i! new+ %0t"ourteen da&! a"ter the true !ol!tice or on .hat
is no. Ean0ary *th1 according to o0r present calendar1 the oon i! "ull; and that day opens
0nder the control o/ the planet 7erc0ry or Aer-es1 the partic0lar leader1 g0ide1 and director1
o/ initiations and the Teachers# This is the case1 -ar2 .ell1 .hen that planet is in in/erior
con>0nction at s0nrise; or -ore partic0larly .hen S0n1 7erc0ry1 Earth1 and 7oon are all in
syDygy ? all along a straight line ? 7erc0ry being bet.een S0n and Earth1 and the 7oon "ull#
The planet 7erc0ry then controls the /irst ho0r o/ the 1*th day a/ter the .inter solstice; b0t
that solstice -0st conc0r .ith the ne. -oon1 and 7erc0ry on that 1*th day a/ter.ards -0st
be in in/erior con>0nction at s0nrise# The 1*th day !Ean0ary *th" is then a tr0e @:ednesday@
or 7erc0ry'day# Th0s opens the cycle# Ao. long that cycle lasts1 $ have not had opport0nity
to investigate# 40r astrono-ers here can .or2 it o0t# %0t th0s .e sho0ld have t.o years5 one
/or .hat .e -ay call the civil year !/0nda-entally an astrological year" /or the p0rposes o/
civil chronology1 by .hich ordinary ti-e .o0ld be rec2oned; and the %0dhic'cycle year# The
civil year .o0ld then begin .ith the day o/ the .inter solstice1 let 0s say =ece-ber 21'221 in
the night bet.een =ece-ber 21st and 22nd# The ne3t day there/ore .o0ld be the /irst day o/
the /irst -onth o/ the ne. civil year; b0t o0r -ystic year1 o0r %0dhic year1 .o0ld begin
/o0rteen days a/ter that at "ull oon1 on a tr0e :ednesday or %0dha'day#
:e t0rn no. to another -atter1 .hich is o/ real i-portance# $ re/er to the diagra- .hich .as
disc0ssed so-e.hat at o0r last -eeting1 and .hich .e then had no ti-e to e3plain in detail#
This paradig-1 this sy-bol1 can re/er either to -an1 or utati! utandi!to the 0niverse o/
any /0ll hierarchy1 it -atters not .hich hierarchy# &ote then1 /irst1 that .e have at the top o/
the diagra- the archetypal .orld1 .hich is the root or seed1 i/ .e loo2 0pon it as the origin or
co--ence-ent o/ things1 as the loc0s o/ the initiation o/ 2os-ic evol0tion and progress; or
.hich is the /lo.er1 the end1 the cons0--ation o/ things1 i/ .e loo2 0pon it as the /0ll'blo.n
/lo.er o/ the 2os-ic evol0tionary cycle# $t -ay be divided into three planes1 so to say1 /or-ing
the highest triad or divine triad; the second o/ these planes is called the ara-at-an or
s0pre-e sel/# The /irst plane represents the arabrah-an1 .ith its /ield o/ 70lapra2riti; this
highest triad1 as represented1 applies to any hierarchy ? this hierarchy1 that hierarchy1 any
hierarchy1 as this paradig- is representative o/ all# The ara-at-an li2e.ise represents the
First or Un-ani/ested 9ogos# The third plane1 or lo.est o/ the triad1 represents the Third or
7ani/ested 9ogos1 or %rah-a'0r0sha'ra2riti# Then1 /ollo.ing the diagra- do.n.ards1 .e
reach the seven principles and ele-ents in -ani/estation1 /or-ed o/ the three I0asi'ar0pa or
/or-less planes1 and o/ the /o0r r0pa planes1 or planes o/ /or-# The egg'shaped envelope o/
the hierarchy is divided into these seven planes1 i/ yo0 please1 and si3 centers o/
conscio0sness .ith their inseparable si3 vehicles or @so0ls#@ The vertical line r0nning 0p and
do.n thro0gh the egg represents the ind.elling sel/5 that sel/ .hich in yo0 and -e and in all
is 4ne; that .hich in all o/ 0s says @$ a-#@ $t does not di//er in yo0 or in -e1 /or it is 4ne1 the
0niversal sel/ o/ the hierarchy# %0t .hat is it in yo0 and -e or in anyone .hich says @$ a- 01
not &ou> ? that .hich is !el"'conscio0sness; That is the ego1 the @$1@ b0t not the sel/1 /or the
sel/ is beyond and o0tside o/ all s0ch li-itation o/ conscio0sness# $t recogniDes no distinction
bet.een Thee and 7e#
No0 re-e-ber the bea0ti/0l S0/i legend1 ho. the So0l1 .andering in search o/ tr0th1 ca-e
/inally to the Ao0se o/ Bod and 2noc2ed at the portal# Then in ans.er to the 2noc21 th0nder
reverberated thro0gh the spaces o/ Aeaven1 and Bod called o0t5 @:ho art tho0;@ ,nd the
So0l replied5 @$#@ ,nd Bod ans.ered5 @$ 2no. not 0#@ Then the So0l .andered again /or -any
ages in trib0lation and sorro.1 and /inally it ca-e ane.1 and once -ore 2noc2ed at the portal
o/ the Ao0se o/ Bod# ,nd the voice o/ Bod called o0t and said5 @:ho art tho0;@ ,nd the So0l
replied5>Thou+> ,nd the voice o/ Bod then ans.ered and said5 @Enter into thine o.n1 /or .e
are 4ne#@ &o distinction there bet.een $ and Tho0 ? a bea0ti/0l legend i-bodying one o/ the
pro/o0ndest concepts o/ the ancient .isdo-#
F0rther1 .e have atte-pted to represent paradig-atically the decreasing conscio0sness1
0nderstanding1 po.er1 potency1 /orce1 e3pansion1 co-prehension1 by the si3 circles grad0ally
decreasing in siDe do.n.ards1 along the central line representing the sel/# $t is i-possible to
represent adeI0ately on a /lat s0r/ace a p0rely -etaphysical s0b>ect; b0t o0r .ish in so doing
is to sho. that the higher the circle or sphere is1 the -ore spirit0al the sphere or center is; the
larger and the -ore co-prehending it is in both I0ality and potency1 not necessarily in
-agnit0de# F0rther1 .e have atte-pted to sho. the increasing -ateriality in these centers or
spheres as they go /arther do.n.ards1 by thic2er and thic2er shading o/ these centers in the
diagra-# The highest center is the divine so0l or -onadic envelope# $t is the /irst or highest
vehicle o/ the at-an; and as an egoic center it is the divine ego# The ne3t one do.n.ards is
the spirit0al so0l or the individ0al -onad# This1 and the one above it1 co-bined1 are the inner
6hrist; and corresponding to the spirit0al so0l or individ0al -onad is the >ivat-an or spirit0al
ego# $t is that portion o/ o0r spirit0al econo-y .hich is deathless as an individ0aliDed ego;
deathless 0ntil the end o/ the -aha'-anvantara o/ the solar syste-# :hen the solar pralaya
arrives in the grand /0llness o/ ti-e1 there co-es a -o-ent1 a /inal instant .hich is the 0tter
co-pletion or cons0--ation o/ all things in that syste-; and in the t.in2ling o/ an eye1
literally1 and instantly1 all the planets and the s0n itsel/ are @blo.n o0t1@ as it .ere# The last
one o/ all -ani/ested beings has at that instant gone to higher planes; and there being
nothing .hatsoever le/t to hold physical -atter together any.here .ithin the solar syste-1
that syste- i--ediately /alls to pieces and vanishes a.ay !as $ have said be/ore" li2e an
instantaneo0s shado. passing over a .all#
The second center is co-prised o/ b0ddhi1 both the /r0it and the seed o/ -anas# This is the
center or seed or root or base o/ the reincarnating ego# Then belo. it co-es in o0r diagra-
the higher h0-an so0l1 co-posed o/ the lo.er b0ddhi and the higher -anas1 .ith the sel/
per-eating it1 as said above# 6orresponding to it as egoic center is the bh0tat-an1 e3plained
at o0r last -eeting1 other.ise the h0-an ego# &e3t co-es the h0-an so0l or -an5 this is
/or-ed o/ -anas1 2a-a1 prana1 and the egoic center corresponding to it is the pranat-an1 or
the personal ego1 .hich is -ortal#
There is no abiding principle /ro- and incl0ding this1 do.n.ards; no abiding principle in
@-an@ .hatsoever# The ne3t belo. is the beast so0l1 or the vital'astral so0l1 the 2a-a'prana;
its I0asi'egoic center being the beast ego1 i/ yo0 li2e5 that ele-entary principle o/ egoship in
the beast .hich holds it together d0ring its e3istence# 40r teachings do give to every ani-ate
thing a so0l; not a h0-an so0l or a divine so0l or a spirit0al so0l1 b0t a !oul corre!%onding to
it! t&%e+ :hat it is1 .hat its type is1 coe! "ro it! !oul8 hence .e properly -ay spea2 o/ the
di//erent beasts as having1 one or the other1 a d0c2 so0l1 an ostrich so0l1 a b0ll or a co. so0l1
a chic2en so0l1 or a nightingale so0l1 and so on# The lo.er entities1 considered as a 2ingdo-1
are di//erentiated into these di//erent /a-ilies o/ ani-ate beings by the di//erent so0ls .ithin
each; and o/ co0rse behind the so0l /ro- .hich it springs1 there are in each individ0al entity
all the other principles that li2e.ise in/or- -an# 9ut all the higher %rinci%le! are latent in the
6ea!t+ That is .hy -an belongs to another ? the h0-an 2ingdo-1 /or there is in hi- the
b0ddhi principle -ore or less active# 7anas springs /orth /ro- the b0ddhi as the /r0it /ro- the
/lo.er; b0t -anas itsel/ is -ortal1 goes to pieces at death# ,ll o/ it that lives a/ter death is only
.hat is spirit0al in it1 and that can be sI0eeDed o0t o/ it1 so to say# A##%# calls it the aro-a o/
the -anas1 -0ch as the che-ist ta2es /ro- the rose the attar or essence o/ roses#
The last is the physical @so0l@ or body5 the sth0la'sarira1 the gross body1 prana1 and the linga'
sarira#
:e have spo2en be/ore o/ the lost so0l as being at one pole1 and o/ the 7aster at the other
pole1 o/ conscio0sness# $t is bet.een the higher h0-an so0l and the h0-an so0l !or -an
proper" that lies the psychological /rontier over .hich one -0st pass /or.ards or 0p.ards1
bac2.ards or do.n.ards; into regeneration or degeneration# $/ yo0 go 0p.ards and contin0e
to go 0p.ards or rather in.ards ? please re-e-ber that .e are obliged to 0se h0-an
lang0age in all s0ch descriptions; .e act0ally do not go 0p in space; it is Hualit& that .e are
spea2ing o/1 the re/ining o/ the I0ality o/ the h0-an ego1 the penetrating1 the brea2ing into1
as it .ere1 o/ the /inal sheaths o/ o0r inner being that -a2es the distinction ? i/ .e contin0e to
go 0p.ards or in.ards1 .e attain /inally to 7asterhood# %0t1 contrari.ise1 i/ .e go
do.n.ards1 i/ o0r egoic so0l'I0ality .holly deteriorates1 then at last .e lose the ego'center1
the so0l'center .hich1 divorced /ro- its 0pper li/e'thread1 is dissipated and1 as said1 is at last
annihilated# There is the case o/ a lost so0l at one pole o/ conscio0sness1 and o/ the 7aster
at the other pole# :hen -ortality beco-es i--ortality1 .hen the corr0ptible beco-es the
incorr0ptible1 then do .e attain to /0ll and co-plete conscio0s 7asterhood ? a lord o/ li/e#
,s said be/ore1 .hen the conscio0s center .hich .e no. are is given over to /0ll attraction or
gravitation to.ards -atter1 the -o-ent0- increases .ith ti-e and 0se and1 thro0gh attrition
as it .ere1 that part o/ 0s .here o0r egoic conscio0sness then resides1 called so0l1 is .orn
a.ay and /inally vanishes# $t is .iped o0t1 annihilated; nothing is le/t o/ it# $t sin2s into the
Eighth Sphere1 the lanet o/ =eath1 .here it -eets /inally its /ear/0l /ate# ,s to the -onadic
!the spirit0al" essence o/ o0r being1 it then has to evolve a ne. conscio0s center or egoic
vehicle /or /0t0re reincarnations# That is .here the serio0sness o/ this thing co-es in# $t has
to develop or evolve the ne. so0l'center1 the ne. egoic center1 in order to ta2e 0p again the
lin2 in the series o/ lives; and it -ay be that in certain circ0-stances ages 0pon ages -ay
pass be/ore the ne.ly evolved vehicle o/ -onadic conscio0sness is able to -a2e 0p the lost
ti-e and opport0nities# $n the -ean.hile1 the racial li/e'.ave has s.ept /ar along the
path.ay o/ destiny; leaving the @/ail0res@ /ar in the rear#
hapter Twenty
The Aigher ,spect o/ A0-an sychology# $nitiation and the 7ysteries5
,vataras1 %0ddhas1 and %odhisattvas# Their Relation to Blobes1 Ro0nds1
and Races#
Tr0ly1 @/or the salvation o/ the good and the destr0ction o/ .ic2edness1@ the personalities
2no.n as Ba0ta-a1 San2ara1 Ees0s and a /e. others .ere born each in his age1 as
declared ? @$ a- born in every N0ga@ ? and they .ere all born thro0gh the sa-e o.er#
There is a great -ystery in s0ch incarnations and they are o0tside and beyond the cycle
o/ general re'births# Rebirths -ay be divided into three classes5 the divine incarnations
called ,vataras; those o/ ,depts .ho give 0p &irvana /or the sa2e o/ helping on h0-anity
? the &ir-ana2ayas; and the nat0ral s0ccession o/ rebirths /or all ? the co--on la.# The
,vatara is an appearance1 one .hich -ay be ter-ed a special ill0sion .ithin the nat0ral
ill0sion that reigns on the planes 0nder the s.ay o/ that po.er1 7aya; the ,dept is re'born
conscio0sly1 at his .ill and pleas0re;U the 0nits o/ the co--on herd 0nconscio0sly /ollo.
the great la. o/ d0al evol0tion#
:hat i! an ,vatara; /or the ter- be/ore being 0sed o0ght to be .ell 0nderstood# $t is a
descent o/ the -ani/ested =eity ? .hether 0nder the speci/ic na-e o/ Shiva1 Fishn01 or
,di'%0ddha ? into an ill0sive /or- o/ individ0ality1 an appearance .hich to -en on this
ill0sive plane is ob>ective1 b0t it is not so in sober /act# That ill0sive /or- having neither
past nor /0t0re1 beca0se it had neither previo0s incarnation nor .ill have s0bseI0ent
rebirths1 has na0ght to do .ith <ar-a1 .hich has there/ore no hold on it#
VVVVVVVVVVV
U, gen0ine initiated ,dept .ill retain his ,deptship1 tho0gh there -ay be /or o0r .orld o/
ill0sion n0-berless incarnations o/ hi-# The propelling po.er that lies at the root o/ a
series o/ s0ch incarnations is not <ar-a1 as ordinarily 0nderstood1 b0t a still -ore
inscr0table po.er# =0ring the period o/ his lives the ,dept does not lose his ,deptship1
tho0gh he cannot rise in it to a higher degree#
? A# # %lavats2y1 @The =octrine o/ ,vataras#@ @S+D+ 000/> p# 3C*
9U&B$&B directly into o0r s0b>ect this evening1 it .ill be re-e-bered that .e have been
st0dying the nat0re o/ the :ondro0s %eing o/ .ho- A# # %lavats2y .rites in the /irst vol0-e
o/ The Secret Doctrine8 and that the 2ey .ords by .hich .e -ay gain so-e appreciation o/
the .ay this :ondro0s %eing .or2s in h0-anity1 and -ore partic0larly in the psychological
hierarchy1 thro0gh the cycles o/ the 7ysteries and o/ initiation ? these 2ey .ords .ere the
@h0-an %anyan#@
,lso .e read on page *2* o/ the sa-e vol0-e1 0nder section the 12th1 @The Theogony o/ the
6reative Bods1@ A# # %lavats2y8s .ords concerning the hierarchy o/ /orces1 .here she points
o0t ho. these /orces .ere originally 0nderstood in their proper sense as intelligences and
conscio0snesses .or2ing in nat0re; b0t that each nation1 as the cycles o/ ti-e passed by1
0nderstood these /orces and intelligences in the sa-e .ay indeed1 b0t gave to the- di//erent
na-es1 and developed a philosophical 0nderstanding o/ the -achinery1 so to say1 o/ the
2os-os in slightly di//ering -anners or /or-s1 and that these di//erent philosophical /or-s
.ere the vario0s schools o/ the 7ysteries; /or instance1 in Sa-othrace and Ele0sis in
Breece1 and si-ilar schools in other co0ntries#
&o. 0p to the present ti-e .e have been tal2ing in -ore or less generaliDing ter-s
regarding this :ondro0s %eing; b0t tonight .e are going to try to partic0lariDe1 as2ing
o0rselves de/initely .ho and .hat this :ondro0s %eing is#
To do that1 .e are 0nderta2ing an e3tre-ely di//ic0lt tas21 on acco0nt o/ the s0btil nat0re o/
the s0b>ects .hich in their entirety e3pose the tr0th abo0t this :ondro0s %eing# :e cannot
0nderstand .ho and .hat this :ondro0s %eing is .itho0t 0nderstanding so-ething o/ the
initiations o/ the 7ystery Schools; and to 0nderstand those .e -0st 0nderstand so-ething o/
the higher aspect o/ h0-an psychology; and again1 to 0nderstand that1 .e -0st 0nderstand
the other doctrines .hich .e have been st0dying1 s0ch as that o/ hierarchies1 and the
doctrine o/ s.abhava1 and so /orth#
lease 0nderstand that these seven >e.els1 these seven treas0ries o/ .isdo-1 co-prehend
in s-all co-pass all possible h0-an 2no.ledge d0ring this 2alpa; that is to say1 the 2ey
teachings .hich /or- those seven treas0ries# They co-prise everything that -an has 2no.n1
that h0-anity no. 2no.s1 and that h0-anity can 2no.1 in this 2alpa# They are1 really1 a short
synopsis in the /or- o/ philosophical principles ? these seven >e.els ? o/ all possible h0-an
2no.ledge; and it depends 0pon each one o/ 0s ho. -0ch o/ that 2no.ledge .e can
0nderstand#
No0 probably also have noticed that not one o/ these >e.els can be /0lly 0nderstood i/
considered alone# They co-ple-ent each other and e3plain each other# Every one o/ the- is
e3plained by the other si3; each one o/ the- e3plains the other si3 and co-ple-ents the-#
lease do not i-agine /or a -o-ent that they are separate and distinct co-part-ents o/
2no.ledge in the -aterialistic sense# There is b0t one 2no.ledge1 one tr0th1 as there is b0t
one li/e1 and one 0lti-ate being; b0t these vario0s >e.els1 these seven >e.els1 are di//erent
/acets1 so to say1 o/ that tr0th1 di//erent pillars1 to change the /ig0re1 in the te-ple o/ divine
.isdo-#
$t .ill be re-e-bered that at o0r last st0dy .e spo2e o/ t.o -ain reasons .hy the Teachers
have 2ept these and other doctrines so secret1 and .hy the penalties /or betrayal o/ this
2no.ledge .ere so great# First1 beca0se these teachings that .e have been st0dying1 and
-any others1 derivatives /ro- the-1 are the s0bli-e re.ard o/ those .ho have proved
the-selves .orthy o/ the- and o/ going /arther in behind the veil o/ li/e# %0t the greater
reason is that they co0ld not be 0nderstood by the 0ntrained -ind even .ere they told; they
si-ply co0ld not be 0nderstood# Breat -inds .o0ld 0nderstand -ore than .o0ld little -inds1
o/ co0rse; b0t on acco0nt o/ the i-per/ect spirit0al develop-ent o/ -en8s -inds so /ar in this
/o0rth ro0nd1 -en si-ply cannot 0nderstand the- .itho0t at least so-e training1 and the
res0lt o/ 0nla./0l e3pos0re o/ the- .o0ld be degradation o/ the teachings .hich originally
.ere given to -en by the gods in the early ages o/ the h0-an race#
This state-ent is no vain re-ar2# These teachings have been betrayed in so-e degree at
di//erent ti-es1 and they have al.ays res0lted in .hat .e call blac2 -agic1 the nat0ral res0lt
o/ a -is0nderstanding and o/ a -isapplication o/ the- and o/ the principles o/ tr0th .hich are
in the-# Even today .e /ind -en and .o-en1 altho0gh they 2no. nothing .hatever o/ these
secret doctrines1 going 0p and do.n the land1 charging /or their teachings on .hat they call
spirit0al realities1 and pro/essing to 2no. everything in heaven and on earth# &ote .ell that
no tr0e spirit0al teacher ever charges -oney1 or any other /ee1 /or spirit0al tr0ths#
:e all 2no. .hat A# # %lavats2y said abo0t s0ch action# @$ .o0ld lie/er starve in the g0tter
than ta2e a penny /or teaching spirit0al tr0ths#@ That is the test by .hich one -ay 2no.1 one
o/ the tests at least1 the tr0e teacher /ro- the /alse# That is one .ay in .hich a teaching -ay
be degraded# 40r Teachers have no desire to have these glorio0s doctrines -is0nderstood
and degraded and1 perhaps1 h0-an so0ls in relatively large n0-bers -isled and their /eet
set 0pon the path .hich leads do.n.ard#
&o. in Breece ? .e .ill ta2e this case /irst as an e3a-ple ? there .ere t.o bodies o/ the
7ysteries1 the 9ess and the Breater# The 9ess1 in ,ttica1 .ere celebrated in the springti-e;
and the Breater .ere celebrated at abo0t the period o/ the a0t0-nal eI0ino31 in Septe-ber1
at Ele0sis# The 9ess consisted1 /irst1 o/ p0ri/ications o/ the so0l and -ind o0t.ards and
in.ards1 -ostly in.ards1 /or that is the real p0ri/ication; and1 second1 o/ dra-atiDations o/ that
.hich .as to ta2e place in act0ality later in the Breater 7ysteries# They represented in
dra-atic1 pictorial /or- that .hich the Breater 7ysteries .ere to bring to the candidates#
The 7ysteries o/ Sa-othrace1 also a Bree2 instit0tion1 and li2e those o/ ,ttica a State
instit0tion in the later days1 .ere probably the oldest in Breece# %0t these t.o schools o/ the
7ysteries1 .hile teaching the sa-e /0nda-ental verities and the sa-e 0lti-ate tr0ths1 did not
teach the sa-e things# For instance1 the 7ysteries o/ Sa-othrace .ere .hat .e today .o0ld
rather call scienti/ic# They dealt .ith the nat0re and operations o/ the <abeiroi1 .ho belonged
to the class o/ spirit0al entities called @b0ilders1@ the lo.er septenary; .hereas at Ele0sis ?
and this na-e#leu!i! -eans the @,dvent@ or the @6o-ing1@ and the #leu!inia @things that are
to co-e@ ? at Ele0sis the -ore theological and -ystical doctrines .ere ta0ght1 -ore
partic0larly that .hich .ill happen to -an a/ter death# Aence the na-e o/ the place1 Ele0sis1
.here they .ere celebrated1 and the na-e o/ the 7ysteries the-selves1 the Ele0sinia1 i#e#1
the things .hich shall be or shall co-e#
Each co0ntry had its o.n -ystical >argon or dialect or -anner o/ spea2ing o/ and in the
vario0s 7ysteries; and .ith regard to the 7ysteries in Breece and in Syria and in alestine1
these >argons or technical .ords nearly rese-bled each other# For instance1 in Syria1
o0tsiders .ere called s.ine and dogs; betrayers .ere called .olves# Those o/ yo0 .ho
re-e-ber yo0r &e. Testa-ent .ill probably re-e-ber the instances in .hich s.ine and
dogs and1 $ thin21 also .olves are spo2en o/# Fo3es .as a ter- /or those .ho tried to enter
the 7ysteries 0nla./0lly# ,ll these ter-s are ta2en /ro- the attrib0tes o/ certain ani-als1
.hich -an in 0nla./0l action copied5 the /o3 on acco0nt o/ its c0nning; the .ol/ on acco0nt o/
its bold cr0elty and lac2 o/ conscience ? that is the rep0tation it has1 at least; s.ine and dogs
on acco0nt o/ the rep0tation that these beasts have al.ays had in the 4rient#
%0t .hile these ter-s .ere a part o/ the >argon o/ the 7ysteries o/ those co0ntries in those
days1 as .as pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting1 it is not the lang0age 0sed in o0r School# $ do
not believe1 as said1 that Ees0s ever called those .ho .ere not initiates in the 7ysteries o/
his ti-e @s.ine and dogs#@ $/ he did this1 the pres0-ption beco-es a certainty that be did not
belong to o0r School; b0t as he did so belong1 .e -0st concl0de that s0ch lang0age ca-e
/ro- his disciples living probably in ,le3andria1 .here the Bospels .ere al-ost certainly
co-posed and .ritten in the /or- in .hich .e no. have the-#
&e3t ? and no. .e t0rn to the direct s0b>ect o/ o0r st0dy1 to o0r -ain the-e1 o0r -ain
tho0ght# 4pen .ide yo0r hearts; cast o0t /or a short ti-e /ro- yo0r -inds all tho0ghts .hich
are personal and 0n.orthy o/ the at-osphere into .hich .e are no. entering# ,t o0r last
st0dy .e too2 /o0r technical .ords in order to e3plain so-e.hat by the- o0r present great
s0b>ect1 tal2ing aro0nd it rather than tal2ing o/ it1 /o0r .ords 0sed in the trans'Ai-alayan
%0ddhis- beca0se1 /irst1 they are the .ords .hich A# # %lavats2y 0sed; secondly1 beca0se
they are the .ords .hich are in the esoteric boo2s o/ the East belonging to o0r School# Three
o/ these are1adi16uddha/ the @pri-al .isdo-1@ or 9ogos1 as a Bree2 .o0ld say; then
the dh&ani16uddha/ the @b0ddha o/ -editation or conte-plation1@ o/ .hich b0ddhas there are
seven; then the anu!h&a1 the @h0-an b0ddha#@ %0t these three are all connected5 the adi'
b0ddha as the 9ogos1 the dhyani'b0ddha as the ca0sal b0ddha1 the -an0shya'b0ddha as
the agent on o0r plane o/ the celestial hierarchy# These b0ddhas belong to the celestial
hierarchy as contrasted .ith the 2os-ic hierarchy or b0ilders# The /o0rth .ord is 6odhi!att4a+
,t /or-er -eetings .e have spo2en o/ the planetary spirits1 0sing this ter- in a general
sense as eI0ivalent to dhyani'chohans or lords o/ -editation# &o. this evening .e go a step
/arther# The planetaries are the b0ilders o/ the astral'-aterial .orld1 and they dra. their plan1
and they dra. their higher li/e1 and they dra. their .isdo- !o0tside o/ that .hich they
the-selves have .on" /ro- the celestial hierarchy1 the 0pper septenary; and this celestial
hierarchy originates in adi'b0ddha1 pri-ordial b0ddha1 or the 9ogos#
&o. /or each ro0nd o/ o0r septenary planetary cycle !that is o/ this 2alpa1 or =ay o/ %rah-a
co-prising all the seven ro0nds" there is a presiding dhyani'b0ddha1 a b0ddha o/
conte-plation1 a ca0sal b0ddha; and all the events o/ all the seven globes o/ o0r planetary
chain are 0nder the overseeing or s0pervision o/ the partic0lar dhyani'chohan o/ that ro0nd#
40r present ro0nd1 being the /o0rth1 is 0nder the s0pervision o/ the dhyani'b0ddha belonging
to the /o0rth degree o/ the celestial hierarchy# For each globe o/ the planetary chain there is
.hat the %0ddhists call a6odhi!att4a/ a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @he .hose essence is
.isdo-#@
This bodhisattva is a -ind'born son1 so to say1 o/ the dhyani'b0ddha o/ that ro0nd# There is a
dhyani'bodhisattva /or this globe1 and also one /or each one o/ the three globes .hich
precede this globe on the do.n.ard arc1 and li2e.ise a bodhisattva /or each o/ the three
globes .hich /ollo. this globe on the 0p.ard arc ? one bodhisattva /or each# This dhyani'
bodhisattva is the spirit0al head o/ the spirit0al'psychological hierarchy o/ each globe# Ta2e
o0r globe1 /or instance# 40r dhyani'bodhisattva is the :ondro0s %eing1 the Breat $nitiator1
the Silent :atcher o/ o0r globe; in one sense an e-anation /ro- the dhyani'b0ddha
overseeing all the ro0nd1 b0t not -erely an e30dation or prolongation1 i/ yo0 .ill1 o/ the
dhyani'b0ddha# Each bodhisattva is an entity in hi-sel/# Ae is as a ray o/ that dhyani'b0ddha#
&e3t1 d0ring evol0tion on o0r earth !and on the other seven globes correspondentially" the
li/e'.ave r0ns thro0gh seven stages called root'races# Each one o/ these root'races is
0shered in by a -an0shya'b0ddha1 a h0-an b0ddha1 .ho is the @son@ o/ the globe'
bodhisattva in the sa-e .ay as the globe'bodhisattva is a @son@ o/ the dhyani'b0ddha o/ the
ro0nd# Each one o/ these seven root'races is /0rther-ore divided at its -iddle point1 so to
spea2# :hen hal/ o/ its cycle is r0n1 then the racial cataclys- ens0es1 /or that is the .ay in
.hich nat0re operates; and preceding that cataclys- there is another h0-an b0ddha1 or
-an0shya'b0ddha1 o/ less degree#
$s this :ondro0s %eing a -an; Ae is# $s he -ore than a -an; Ae is# $s he a septenary
entity; Ae is# Ao. is the in/l0ence o/ this :ondro0s %eing co--0nicated to his agents1 the
h0-an b0ddhas and the h0-an bodhisattvas;
9et 0s st0dy /or a -o-ent an allied s0b>ect1 a psychological one1 be/ore .e go /arther# :e
cannot 0nderstand .hat co-es to o0r the-e /arther on 0ntil .e have at least s2etched o0t
this psychological s0b>ect# 7an1 as yo0 2no.1 is seven/old# 7an -ay be divided in a tri/or-
.ay5 a spirit0al -an1 an inter-ediate or highly ethereal -an1 and an astral'physical -an# $n
other .ords and in @psychological@ ter-s5 !1" divine -an1 !2" spirit0al -an1 !3" personal -an#
&o.1 then1 .hat is an avatara; ,n avatara1 as co--only s0pposed1 is the descent o/ a god
into a h0-an /or-# That idea is e3oteric# $t is not /alse1 b0t si-ply p0t in that .ay and .ith
nothing -ore added in e3planation it is very -isleading#
No0 re-e-ber .hat <rishna says in the 9haga4ad1'ita5 @$ incarnate in period a/ter period in
order to destroy .ic2edness and reestablish righteo0sness#@ <rishna there represents the
9ogos1 or rather1 perhaps1 the logoic ray; and the 9ogos ? or its ray or in/l0ence ? on o0r
plane .o0ld be 0tterly helpless1 inactive1 and have no possible -eans o/ co--0nication .ith
0s and o0r sphere1 beca0se that logoic ray lac2s an inter-ediate and"ull& con!ciou! vehicle
or carrier1 i#e#1 it lac2s the inter-ediate or highly ethereal -echanis-1 the spirit0al'h0-an in
0s1 .hich in ordinary -an i! 6ut !lightl& acti4e+ ,n avatara ta2es place .hen a direct ray /ro-
the 9ogos enters into1 /0lly inspires1 and ill0-inates1 a h0-an being1 thro0gh the inter-ediary
o/ a bodhisattva .ho has incarnated in that h0-an being1 thereby s0pplying the /it1 ready1
and /0lly conscio0s inter-ediate vehicle or carrier# This @h0-an being@ has no 2ar-ic ego o/
its o.n# The egoity1 the ego1 the inter-ediate part1 the highly ethereal and /0lly conscio0s
inter-ediary1 the spirit0al'h0-an ele-ent1 is s0pplied by the incarnating bodhisattva; that is
to say1 the highly evolved personal principles o/ a b0ddha1 other.ise a nir-ana2aya ? not the
highest ele-ent o/ that b0ddha1 .hich is in nirvana1 b0t the spirit0al'personal ele-ent o/ the
b0ddha1 glorio0s1 p0re1 and great1 the spirit0al'personal ego ? enters into the body o/ that
0tterly p0re h0-an being be/ore or shortly a/ter its birth1 and th0s s0pplies the inter-ediate
vehicle appropriate /or the incarnation o/ the logoic ray# That is an avatara#
For instance1 a child is born# That child has an inner psycho'astral nat0re o/ transparent
p0rity and bea0ty and it attracts -agnetically1 i/ yo0 li2e1 b0t spirit0ally1 act0ally1 a ray /ro-
the 9ogos# $ts o.n higher sel/ is /0lly active1 o/ co0rse1 and the logoic ray ? .hich is $TSE9F ?
-ani/ests in it# F0rther-ore1 a bodhisattva1 0nder the conditions .hich prevail .hen an
avatara is reI0ired on earth1 enters that body also1 th0s s0pplying the egoic ele-ent# So1
then1 .e have this -arvelo0s thing5 a p0re h0-an body .ith its prana and astral -odel'body1
b0t .ith no tr0e 2ar-ic ego incarnating1 a bodhisattva s0pplying that egoic ele-ent o/ still
greater p0rity than possible to ordinary -en1 and evolved to the degree reI0ired /or the
incarnation o/ the logoic or at-ic ray1 that logoic ray and the higher sel/ o/ the born child
really being one# %0t this -ystery in li/e is a very e3ceptional circ0-stance#
9et 0s t0rn to another /acet o/ the sa-e psychological s0b>ect# Ta2e the case o/ the 9ord
%0ddha# lease notice that .e here spea2 o/ the 9ord %0ddha1 altho0gh .e spea2 o/ the
great -an as Siddhartha1 his personal na-e1 and o/ the sage Ba0ta-a1 or Ba0ta-a'
Sa2ya-0ni# Ba0ta-a .as his /a-ily na-e; Sa2ya1 his clan na-e; Sa2ya-0ni1 the Sa2ya
sage1 .as the title given to hi- in later li/e and a/ter# :hen Sa2ya-0ni entered nirvana
d0ring li/e1 he is then e3oterically said to have @died@ at the age o/ eighty years; b0t o0r
teachings sho. hi- act0ally to have lived to one h0ndred years be/ore he gave 0p his
physical body and re-ained on earth as a nir-ana2aya# :e all 2no. .hat a nir-ana2aya is;
it is a co-plete -an -in0s the physical body only# %0t is that all there is o/ this .ondro0s
-ystery; $t is not# The higher portions o/ the %0ddha .ere in nirvana; yet the spirit0al'
personal ego re-ained on earth1 active1 an active entity1 a /orce /or spirit0al good as a
nir-ana2aya1 overshado.ed by the nirvanic ele-ent1 and this nir-ana2aya .as1 please note
care/0lly1 a h0-an bodhisattva# $t is the teaching that this bodhisattva1 the egoic ele-ent o/
the %0ddha Ba0ta-a1 as .as the case .ith previo0s b0ddhas1 .as a spirit0al'h0-an ray
/ro- the globe dhyani'bodhisattva#
No0 perceive the di//ic0lty1 the e3tre-e di//ic0lty1 in -a2ing these s0btil and highly spirit0al
s0b>ects clear to -inds 0ntrained in o0r -etaphysic# ,ct0ally they reI0ire years o/ deep
tho0ght# 9et 0s loo2 at it /ro- another aspect again# :ho .as Ees0s; :hat .as Ees0s; :ho
.as ,polloni0s o/ Tyana; :hat .as he; The teaching is that both .ere incarnations o/ a
nir-ana2aya1 and both had the sa-e -ysterio0s connection .ith the bodhisattva o/ the
%0ddha Ba0ta-a# ,polloni0s .as not an avatara1 tho0gh Ees0s .as# There are close
psychological si-ilarities bet.een these t.o .onder'cases o/ history; b0t they are not
identically the sa-e -ystery# $ -erely note here in passing that -ystically a b0ddha stands
higher than an avatara1 /or reasons .hich .ill be e3plained in d0e co0rse o/ o0r st0dy#
9et 0s go a step /arther# No0 all have read o/ the incarnations o/ the b0ddhas in Tibet# :e are
no. spea2ing in e3oteric lang0age1 s0ch as yo0 .ill read in Sven Aedin or vario0s others o/
the E0ropean e3plorers# So-e o/ the- have seen these so'called incarnations o/ the
%0ddha# lease 0nderstand once /or all that o0r School is not 9a-ais-; o0r School is
representative o/ the archaic1 esoteric1 .isdo- o/ the .orld1 altho0gh it is tr0e on the other
hand that the esoteric side o/ Tibetan 9a-ais-1 properly 0nderstood1 is the nearest doctrinal
approach to the doctrines1 in large degree1 o/ o0r School# :ith all the /a0lts that the Tibetans
-ay have1 .ith all the vario0s dra.bac2s that .e :esterners -ay consider the- as having
in one .ay or another1 nevertheless the esoteric teaching in Tibet is nearer to that o/ o0r
School than any other#
%0t ho. did this very c0rio0s and interesting doctrine o/ the contin0ed reincarnations o/ the
%0ddha in the Tibetan Tashi'9a-a and the =alai'9a-a1 and in vario0s others o/ the %0ddhist
hierarchy in vario0s -onasteries in Tibet1 originate; $t originated in the -other'doctrine that
.e are no. st0dying# No0 .ill re-e-ber that A# # %lavats2y spea2s in the passage in The
Secret Doctrine that .e are no. st0dying o/ an event that happened be/ore the separation o/
the se3es in the third root'race1 .hen a certain @spirit0al being@ incarnated in -en; and she
says that this .as not a race b0t1 a/ter this :ondro0s %eing1 beca-e a s0ccession o/ great
spirit0al entities# $t is act0ally the %a!!ing on o/ the inner sel/1 the ego i/ yo0 li2e1 the ethereal
-an1 o/ that original :ondro0s %eing that ca-e to h0-an2ind /ro- s0perior spheres in order
to enlighten and to save -an2ind1 beginning .ith the third root'race ? passing on do.n
thro0gh the ages therea/ter in vehicles o/ h0-an /lesh and -entality even to o0r present
ti-e# No0 .ill re-e-ber ho. she spea2s o/ this :ondro0s %eing as a -an1 and yet not a
-an1 one concerning .ho- legends are ri/e in the 4rient# $n all ages there have been
-ysterio0s all0sions to the 7aster'$nitiate1 to the Breat 4ne1 to the Aead o/ all Teachers1 to
the Silent :atcher1 to the Breat $nitiator1 and so /orth and so /orth# Tibetan 9a-ais- dre.
this teaching o/ the contin0ed reincarnations o/ the %0ddha /ro- that /act# This is an
interesting I0estion1 and perhaps so-e day .e shall investigate it -ore /0lly; b0t .e cannot
to0ch 0pon Tibetan 9a-ais- at greater length this evening#
$t is necessary1 ho.ever1 to 0nderstand that the di//erence bet.een the trans-ission o/ an
egoic ele-ent as in the b0ddhaic line in Tibet1 and those e3ceptional incarnations called the
avataras1 is in one sense great; and in another sense they are very -0ch ali2e# They are very
-0ch ali2e in this1 that in both cases the 0padhi !or vehicle" chosen /or the -ani/estation o/
the s0perior entity is a h0-an being# ,lso in both cases the psycho'ethereal 0padhi is a
bodhisattva; that is to say1 in the case o/ an avatara1 the bodhisattva is the glori/ied personal
-an o/ a b0ddha1 o/ a -an0shya'b0ddha; the la-aic s0ccession is also bodhisattvic1 b0t o/
in/erior intensity1 so to say ? a bodhisattvic in"luence rather than a /0ll incarnation o/ a
bodhisattva1 as in the case o/ an avatara#
The doctrines that st0dents o/ %0ddhis- set /orth in the boo2s .hich they p0blish on
%0ddhis-1 in the :est1 are o/ co0rse those that they derive /ro- the %0ddhist boo2s
the-selves1 0s0ally .ith very inadeI0ate 0nderstanding o/ the s0btil points o/ that -ost
spirit0al o/ all religions; and 0nI0estionably these scholars strive to 0nderstand and tr0th/0lly
and honestly to set /orth that .hich they believe to be the real -eaning o/ %0ddhist
teachings# %0t it is an a-aDing thing that they do not s0cceed better; and the reason is that
they co-e to their st0dy .ith -aterialistic :estern -inds1 -aterialistic :estern
preconceptions and pre>0dices# They co-e to their st0dy in an attit0de o/ -ind .hich they
the-selves do not recogniDe as e3isting1 and hence tal2 sagely ? .hen they /ail to grasp
-eanings ? o/ the @s0perstitio0s e3travagances o/ 4riental i-agery1@ etc#1 etc# &o. ho. is it
possible to 0nderstand the real nat0re or the real essence o/ anything i/ yo0 begin yo0r st0dy
.ith the prepossessing idea that yo0 2no. better and -ore than did the persons .ho .rote
the things .hich yo0 are st0dying; S0ch egois- destroys sy-pathy and obsc0res tr0e
vision; and i/ yo0r st0dy be o/ religio0s s0b>ects1 inevitably yo0 .ill loo2 0pon all state-ents
-ade or doctrines /or-0lated as @-on2ish vagaries#@ %0t1 as .as pointed o0t in other
st0dies1 there is no e3oteric doctrine belonging to the great ancient .orld religions .hich is
intrinsically /alse# The /act is that the e3oteric teaching i! the tr0th1 b0t it needs a 2ey in order
to e3plain it; and .itho0t the 2ey it act0ally can be1 and 0s0ally is1 -is0nderstood and
-isinterpreted1 and degraded in a -anner very si-ilar to that o/ .hich .e spo2e 0pon
opening o0r st0dy this evening#
9et 0s no. t0rn to another s0b>ect connected .ith this1 collateral1 and sho.ing another /acet
o/ the >e.el# They tell 0s that the h0-an b0ddha1 the -an0shya'b0ddha Ba0ta-a'
Sa2ya-0ni1 .as born C*3 years be/ore the /irst year o/ the accepted beginning o/ the
6hristian era# 40r doctrine tells 0s /0rther that a h0-an racial b0ddha co-es at the beginning
o/1 and a -inor one preceding the -iddle point o/1 a root'race# $ call yo0r attention to the /act
that .e are no. approaching the -iddle point o/ o0r /i/th root'race# :e are in the /o0rth
s0brace o/ that /i/th root'race1 not in the /i/th s0brace thereo/# lease get this point clear in
yo0r -inds# $t .ill be bet.een si3teen tho0sand and t.enty tho0sand years yet be/ore the
racial cataclys- .ill ens0e .hich .ill c0t o0r /i/th root'race in t.o1 e3actly as happened to the
/o0rth'race ,tlanteans and to the third'race 9e-0rians .ho preceded the-; and as it .ill
happen to the t.o root'races .hich .ill /ollo. o0rs1 the si3th and seventh#
&o. the reason .hy so-e st0dents have s0pposed that racially .e are no. in
the "i"th s0brace is on acco0nt o/ a -isinterpretation1 very pardonable1 it is tr0e1 beca0se .e
all 2no. that the s0b>ect o/ cycles and n0-bers is al.ays closely veiled# This
-isinterpretation or -isconception appears to have arisen /ro- .hat A# # %lavats2y .rites
in vol0-e $$ o/The Secret Doctrine on pages *3( and **(; and $ desire to call yo0r attention
to the /act that one o/ the co--onest @blinds@ that a teacher is obligated to -a2e .hen
.riting o/ esoteric -atters in a p0blic .or2 isu!ing the !ae word in 4ar&ing !en!e!+ There is
an esoteric obligation to do so .hen it is necessary1 in order to tell the tr0th /or those .ho can
and .ho -ay read1 and yet to hide it /ro- the @dogs@ and @s.ine@ and @/o3es1@ i/ yo0 .ill
/orgive -y 0se here o/ the &e. Testa-ent or Syrian >argon# $ call yo0r attention in the above
connection to The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page 3liii5 @# # # each Ro0nd being co-posed o/
the N0gas L,gesM o/ the seven periods Lroot'racesM o/ A0-anity; /o0r o/ .hich are no.
passed in our li/e cycle1 the -iddle point o/ the (th being nearly reached#@ $ call yo0r attention
also to page C1) o/ this sa-e vol0-e .here A# # %lavats2y says5 @%0t as .e are in the -id'
point o/ o0r !u61race o/ the Fi/th Root Race ? the ac-e o/ -ateriality in each ? there/ore the
ani-al propensities1 tho0gh -ore re/ined1@ etc# The @ac-e o/ -ateriality in each@ -eans only
one thing ? the iddle %oint o" the"ourth o" an& c&clical !erie!5 /or instance1 the "ourth
%riar& !u6race; the "ourth !u6race o/ the "ourth %riar& !u6race o/ the "i"th root1race1 and
so /orth#
S0ppose that /or convenience8 sa2e .e divide the races in the /ollo.ing .ay5 root'race really
-eaning the /irst or root' or originating pri-ary s0brace1 b0t co--only applied to all the
seven s0ccessive pri-ary s0braces o/ a root'race and all the -any other s-aller s0braces
incl0ded in those seven# The /irst root'race then is the /irst pri-ary s0brace1 o/ .hich pri-ary
s0braces there are seven in the great racial cycle; then the secondary s0brace1 seven o/
the- in each pri-ary s0brace; then seven /a-ily races in each secondary s0brace; then
seven national races in each /a-ily race# :e need go no /arther# , /e. steps -ore in the
series and yo0 .ill co-e to the 0nit'entity1 or individ0al -an# %0t please also e3a-ine page
1*7 and page 71) o/ vol0-e $$1 /or they .ill .ell repay yo0r close st0dy o/ the-#
$n another part o/ The Secret Doctrine yo0 .ill re-e-ber that A# # %lavats2y1 in spea2ing o/
the precessional cycle o/ 2(192) years1 here giving the ancient /ig0res1 calls it the cycle o/ a
/a-ily race1 that is to say1 the race incl0ding seven national races# The E0ropean race is a
/a-ily race; and hence .hen she spea2s o/ the li/eti-e o/ this /a-ily race she says it has
abo0t 1C1))) -ore years to r0n# So yo0 see that /ro- o0r ordinary h0-an vie.point .e are
not yet very near the great racial cataclys-; b0t /ro- the standpoint o/ the cycles o/ the age
o/ a root'race so short a period as 1C1))) years is li2e saying to-orro.1 or even the ne3t
ho0r# , short period o/ 1C1))) or 2)1))) years is insigni/icant in d0ration in the dra-a o/ the
so0l#
,nd A# # %lavats2y so-e.here ? $ thin2 it .as in her -agaDine <uci"erin 1++7 or 1+++ ?
all0des very graphically to the earthI0a2es then reported in the ne.spapers as occ0rring1
and she calls the- the"orerunner! o/ that .hich is going to happen to 0s a! a race+ %0t is
,-erica the ho-e to 6e o/ the Cth s0brace; Nes# 7hich s0brace; S0brace is vag0e eno0ghK
$s it to be a si3th "ail& race; %0t i/ ,-erica is then to be in abo0t 1C1))) years1 or the latter
part o/ a precessional cycle o/ 2(192) years /ro- no.1 the ho-e o/ the si3th /a-ily race1 A#
# %lavats2y goes on i--ediately1 in a -asterly .ay1 >0st as any initiate .o0ld1 to lead the
-ind on1 and she says that ,-erica is also to be the!eed1land/ the nur!er&/ o/ the si3th root'
race1 a state-ent also tr0e1 b0t incl0ding a vast period o/ years bet.een the t.o pointsK
:hen that latter /ar'distant day da.ns ,-erica .ill then no longer be# 70ch o/ the land o/ the
,-ericas that is no. above the .aters .ill then be 0nder the-1 and ne. land1 no. /or-ing
the sea botto-1 .ill have arisen above its s0r/ace# For all .e 2no.1 &orth and So0th ,-erica
-ay be -ore .idely 0nited# &e. land .ill rise o0t o/ the present aci/ic1 th0s raising the old
9e-0rian beds again1 to be >oined to 0s here on o0r .estern coasts#
So .hen .e read o/ s0braces let 0s be.are1 let 0s be care/0l1 lest the -olds o/ o0r -inds1
-isleading 0s1 lead 0s astray a/ter -ere .ords .hich are blinds# %rea2 the -olds o/ yo0r
-inds at all costsK Free yo0r -inds1 2eep the- plasticK Re/0se to ta2e as the sole tr0th any
isolated state-ent .hatsoever1 .herever yo0 -ay /ind it# Ta2e it/ b0t not alone; contrast it1
co-pare it1 st0dy it1 and analyDe it i/ yo0 .ant the tr0th# Especially is this necessary .hen it is
a I0estion o/ cycles1 and o/ the .ords dealing .ith cycles# :atch care/0lly .hen yo0 see the
.ord s0brace1 .atch care/0lly .hen yo0 read o/ the %0ddha# :hich b0ddha; 4r o/ the
bodhisattva ? .hich one;
So .e postpone /or a later and -ore e3tended st0dy the s0b>ects .hich .e have atte-pted
this evening to o0tline# 70ch -ore sho0ld and .ill be said abo0t this :ondro0s %eing# %0t1 in
closing1 do not -isconstr0e -y .ords abo0t this :ondro0s %eing# Re-e-ber the series5
/irst1 the 9ogos1 the adi'b0ddha; then the seven dhyanis1 each one o/ the seven inspiring and
overseeing one o/ the seven ro0nds1 .ho is the ca0sal b0ddha1 the s0n1 i/ yo0 li2e1
e-anating o0t inn0-erable in/erior beings# Then the dhyani'bodhisattvas1 /or each globe o/
the planetary chain1 seven o/ the-; and seven -an0shya'b0ddhas1 one s0ch /or each one o/
the seven root'races on each globe d0ring each ro0nd# There are probably al-ost
n0-berless cases .here a bodhisattva1 a b0ddhic ray1 as the cycles o/ ti-e pass1 reaches
o0t /ro- the 9odge o/ the 7asters1 .here the Breat $nitiator1 the Aighest 4ne1 is1 the 7an'
E-anation o/ the :ondro0s %eing1 and inspires and instills the ancient .isdo- into the so0l
o/ so-e great and p0re h0-an being1 s0ch as .as Ees0s o/ &aDareth1 and ,polloni0s o/
Tyana1 and -any1 -any others .hose na-es are not /a-iliar to 0s :esterners#
,nd in the initiations there are three things that ta2e place# They are directly connected .ith
the s0b>ect o/ the :ondro0s %eing and the bodhisattvas# Re-e-ber that initiation is the
I0ic2ening or enlivening o/ the so0l o/ one .ho is prepared# $t is a I0ic2ening process o/
evol0tion1 /or prod0cing a -ore rapid evolving o/ the inner -an1 .hich other.ise an ordinary
-an .o0ld achieve only a/ter -any ages# $n these initiations1 and in the /i/th1 to partic0lariDe1
there occ0rs .hat is called the theo%han&+ The 6hristians 0se that .ord and also epiphany1
.hich is a -inor /or- o/ the sa-e thing1 and they say it sho0ld be celebrated on the *th'Cth
o/ Ean0ary1 the -atter having direct relation .ith the calendar o/ the solar year o/ .hich .e
spo2e in o0r last st0dy# Theo%han& originally -eant the @appearance o/ a god#@ $t act0ally is
the /ollo.ing -ystery5 in the /i/th initiation1 the h0-an being 0nder trial1 the chela 0nder
trial1 eet! hi! own god1!el" "ace to "ace/ and /or a longer or shorter ti-e 6ecoe! one with
it# Ae then 2no.s tr0th# No0 .ill re-e-ber that the only .ay o/ really 0nderstanding a thing
is to 6ecoe that thing+ ,nd that is the real -eaning o/ .hat ta2es place in the tr0e1 real
initiations1 and the e%i%han&is a -inor -ani/estation o/ the theo%han&# $t is a Bree2 .ord
-eaning @shining 0pon1@ or ill0-inating; .hereas theo%han& -eans the @shining /orth visibly
o/ a god@ ? the anE! own inner higher !el"+
$/ the theophany is -ore or less co-plete 0pon the ending o/ the initiation or the trial1 the
chela then has theo%neu!t&/ -eaning @divine inspiration#@ Ae is conscio0sly 0nited .ith his
inner god1 his higher sel/# 9iterally1 the inner god o/ the candidate breathes do.n into hi-1 /or
a longer or shorter ti-e1 depending 0pon his advance-ent1 the .isdo- and the 2no.ledge o/
all the 0niverse1 so to say1 in degree greater or less1 depending 0pon the candidate8s
advance-ent and receptivity#
The highest o/ all the ancient initiation achieve-ents in Breece .as called
the theo%ath&/ -eaning @s0//ering a god@ ? not a god .ho s0//ers1 b0t one .ho s0//ers the
conscio0s entrance into hi- o/ a god# This is not1 o/ co0rse1 an avatara1 .hich is so-ething
else entirely1 as .e have sho.n above; b0t it -eans that at initiation and /or a less or greater
ti-e a/ter.ards1 according to the spirit0al po.er and receptivity o/ the initiate1 he beco-es1
thro0gh that holy presence in hi-1 a .al2ing1 living god1 hi! own inner sel/# Finally1 in so-e
rare cases the theophany1 the theopne0sty1 and the theopathy last as long as does the li/e on
earth o/ the initiate#
hapter 23
$nitiations and the ,ncient 7ysteries# Root'Races and Their S0bdivisions#
Blobe Ro0nds# lanetary Ro0nds# Solar <alpas5 Ao. 6alc0lated# Racial
6ataclys-s#
@,s to the hilosophy1 by .hose assistance the 7ysteries .ere developed !and .hich1 .e
-ay say1 they .ere designed to teach"1 it is coeval .ith the Universe itsel/; and1 ho.ever
its contin0ity -ay be bro2en by opposing syste-s1 it .ill -a2e its appearance at di//erent
periods o/ ti-e1 as long as the s0n hi-sel/ shall contin0e to ill0-inate the .orld# $t has1
indeed1 and -ay herea/ter be violently assailed by del0sive opinions; b0t the opposition
.ill be >0st as i-becile as that o/ the .aves o/ the sea against a te-ple b0ilt on a roc21
.hich -a>estically po0rs the- bac21 bro2en and vanI0ished1 /oa-ing to the -ain#
Ao.ever it -ay be involved in oblivion in barbaro0s and derided in i-pio0s ages1 it .ill
again /lo0rish ? thro0gh all the in/inite revol0tions o/ ti-e#@ ? Tho-as Taylor1#leu!inian
and 9acchic M&!terie!
Aence in the Saragdine Ta6let1 dis/ig0red by 6hristian hands5 ?
@The S0perior agrees .ith the $n/erior; and the $n/erior .ith the S0perior; to e//ect that one
tr0ly .onder/0l :or2@ ? .hich is 7,&# For the secret .or2 o/ 6hira-1 or <ing Aira- in the
<abala1 @one in Essence1 b0t three in ,spect1@ is the Universal ,gent or <a%i!
$hilo!o%horu+ The c0l-ination o/ the Secret :or2 is Spirit0al er/ect 7an1 at one end o/
the line; the 0nion o/ the three ele-ents is the 4cc0lt Solvent in the @So0l o/ the :orld1@
the *o!ic So0l or ,stral 9ight1 at the other; # # # ? The Secret Doctrine/ $$1 113
The intention o/ all -ystic cere-onies is to con>oin 0s .ith the .orld o/ the Bods# ?
Sall0st
The design o/ the 7ysteries is to lead 0s bac2 to the per/ection /ro- .hich1 as a rinciple1
.e /irst -ade o0r descent# ? lato
%lessed are the p0re in heart5 /or they shall see Bod Ltheir o.n inner godM# ? Ees0s
$ have heard o/ thee by the hearing o/ the ear1 b0t no. -ine eye seeth thee# ? Eob
TA$S evening .e are going to spea2 o/ another -atter collateral .ith o0r -ain the-e yet
very i-portant; and at o0r ne3t -eeting .e shall endeavor to ta2e 0p the scattered threads
.hich .e have 0nloosened1 both in generaliDation and in partic0lar1 and gather the- together
and .eave the- into a consistent .hole1 -a2ing as nearly as possible a clearer pict0re /or
o0r brain'-inds o/ .hat .e can 0nderstand at present o/ the seventh treas0ry o/ .isdo-#
,lso1 i/ .e have ti-e this evening1 .e shall endeavor very brie/ly to treat o/ a -atter le/t
inco-plete at o0r last -eeting1 that is to say1 the I0estion o/ the seven root'races o/ -an2ind
thro0gh .hich the h0-an .ave o/ li/e passes d0ring the present /o0rth ro0nd on o0r globe#
:e open o0r st0dy in reading /ro- vol0-e $ o/ The Secret Doctrine/page *2*1 the e3tract
.hich .e have read be/ore5
To thoro0ghly co-prehend the idea 0nderlying every ancient cos-ology necessitates the
st0dy1 in a co-parative analysis1 o/ all the great religions o/ antiI0ity; as it is only by this
-ethod that the root idea .ill be -ade plain# E3act science ? co0ld the latter soar so high1
.hile tracing the operations o/ nat0re to their 0lti-ate and original so0rces ? .o0ld call
this idea the hierarchy o/ Forces# The original1 transcendental and philosophical
conception .as one# %0t as syste-s began to re/lect .ith every age -ore and -ore the
idiosyncrasies o/ nations; and as the latter1 a/ter separating1 settled into distinct gro0ps1
each evolving along its o.n national or tribal groove1 the -ain idea grad0ally beca-e
veiled .ith the overgro.th o/ h0-an /ancy# :hile in so-e co0ntries the F4R6ES1 or
rather the intelligent o.ers o/ nat0re1 received divine hono0rs they .ere hardly entitled
to1 in others ? as no. in E0rope and the ci4ili=edlands ? the very tho0ght o/ any s0ch
Force being endo.ed .ith intelligence see-s abs0rd1 and is proclai-ed un!cienti"ic#
&ote the cal- b0t trenchant irony in this e3tract# $ -erely call attention to it be/ore passing on#
&o. this e3tract1 tho0gh dealing .ith the vario0s aspects .hich the ancient religions too2 as
the ages passed1 leading to their di//erentiations into the so'called great religions o/ the
.orld1 nevertheless /its in very .ell by analogy and by co-parison .ith the s0b>ect .hich .e
are going to treat in partic0lar1 altho0gh brie/ly1 this evening1 that is to say1 the I0estion o/
initiations and the ancient 7ysteries1 and also a -0ch -is0nderstood /act in nat0re closely
connected .ith the ancient 7ysteries1 .hich .as evolved into a doctrine by the ancients and
called by the- the @s0ccession o/ teachers@ ? guru%ara%ara in Sans2rit1 and distortedly and
/aintly re/lected in the ,postolic S0ccession in the 6hristian sche-e#
The 6hristian 6h0rch very early too2 over that doctrine o/ the s0ccession o/ teachers1 .ith
-0ch other theological ti-ber1 /ro- the old religions o/ the co0ntries bordering the
7editerranean Sea; and the doctrine .hich it too2 over beca-e /or that 6h0rch the so'called
,postolic S0ccession o/ the 6h0rch o/ Ro-e1 the popes s0cceeding one another and
clai-ing to be the s0ccessors o/ the /isher-an'apostle o/ Balilee1 Si-on eter# :e do not
care to go into this aspect o/ the -atter /or it is 0seless /or o0r present p0rpose1 and no
bene/it can be gained by it; b0t .herever .e loo2 and .hatever line o/ h0-an social or
religio0s activity .e -ay choose to ta2e /or o0r st0dy1 .e shall al.ays /ind that there is a
passing on o/ a0thority or a passing on o/ teachings1 or o/ both# The vario0s heads o/ even
o0r political bodies s0cceed one another1 and 0s0ally carry on a political tradition# %ig
b0sinesses s0cceed one another1 and 0s0ally pass on1 /ro- -an to -an1 a tradition o/
co--ercial policy and e3pansion1 and so /orth# $t is si-ply an e3e-pli/ication in ordinary
practical li/e o/ a r0le o/ nat0re; that is to say1 that -an1 being a -ortal being1 having to die1
b0t being an entity o/ tho0ght and o/ heart1 does not .ant to see that .hich he /eels to be
good1 or .hich he believes to be good1 lost; and so he trans/ers either a0thority or teaching1
or both1 to another .ho- he considers /it and capable to carry on his teaching or a0thority1 or
both#
$t is in the religio0s /ield o/ h0-an activity that this syste- is -ost -ar2ed1 and .here the
/eeling is the strongest# , s0ccession o/ @prophets@ s0cceeding each other in the ancient
7ysteries1 a s0ccession o/ hierophants s0cceeding each other therein1 is a /act .ell 2no.n to
0s1 even ordinary 2no.ledge s0ch as yo0 -ay /ind in an encyclopedia or in school boo2s#
$n Breece1 /or instance1 in ta2ing the Ele0sinian 7ysteries as an e3a-ple1 .e 2no. that the
hierophants .ere dra.n /ro- one /a-ily1 the E0-olpidae1 living in ,thens1 and the
torchbearers .ere dra.n /ro- another /a-ily1 the 9yco-idae1 living in ,thens; and .e have
reason to believe that the 7ysteries o/ Sa-othrace1 the seat o/ an older rite1 and .hich .ere1
li2e the 7ysteries o/ Ele0sis1 a State /0nction1 .ere also cond0cted in the sa-e -anner by
the passing on o/ the tradition held sacred and inco--0nicable to o0tsiders; and the bond o/
0nion bet.een the initiates o/ these so'called 7ysteries .as considered indissol0ble1
i-possible o/ dissol0tion1 /or death -erely strengthened the tie#
&o. o0tside o/ the /act that -en li2e to pass on .hat they thin2 and believe to be good1
.hence arose thro0gho0t the vario0s co0ntries o/ the .orld o/ .hich .e have so-e
2no.ledge the re-ar2able -ystic si-ilarities .e 2no. o/1 .hence ca-e to the- all the
closely si-ilar 2no.ledge and a0thority .hich .ere passed on /ro- one head to another; $t
-0st have co-e /ro- so-e.here# 7en no longer believe in the e-pty philosophico'scienti/ic
theory or /allacy o/ /i/ty years ago1 to the e//ect that1 /or instance1 si3 -en1 living in si3
di//erent isles1 .ill inevitably and in/allibly tread si3 -ore or less identical paths o/ -ental and
physical tho0ght and cere-ony# $t .as once a scienti/ic heresy to do0bt that theory# $t .as
called a /act1 tho0gh there .ere no /acts to prove it; it .as a theory -erely1 having no other
/o0ndation than i-agination over.or2ed in order to /ind an e3planation o/ si-ilarities and
identities s0ch as the above#
9et 0s say here that .e loo2 .ith respect and reverence 0pon the discoveries o/ the -any
great and noble'-inded -en .ho have given 0s brighter vie.s into the shell o/ nat0re1 the
o0t.ard physical shell1 and .hose lives o/ten are -odels o/ sel/'sacri/ice; b0t .hile .e
recogniDe that every ne. light shed into o0r -inds1 sho.ing 0s ne. vie.s into the heart o/
nat0re1 is good /or 0s1 nevertheless .e dra. a sharp line o/ distinction bet.een !cience1 the
noble 2no.ledge o/ classi/ied tr0th1 and the theorie! o" !cienti!t!+ :e accept a theory i/ it is
good1 b0t only as a theory; and it -0st be corroborated by nat0re hersel/ be/ore .e .ill
accept it as a /act1 as a part o/ science per se#
So1 then1 .e receive the /ollo.ing bit o/ 2no.ledge /ro- o0r Teachers that this partic0lar
doctrine1 .hich in the 6h0rch o/ Ro-e is called the ,postolic S0ccession1 and in the ancient
7ysteries .as called the assing o/ the :ord1 the assing o/ the <no.ledge1 the assing o/
the ,0thority1 or by so-e si-ilar e3pression1 originated in o0r 4rder1 b0t obvio0sly not in o0r
li/eti-e# :e are -erely a generation1 one o/ -any1 carrying on the tradition o/ the 2no.ledge
.hich originated in the /inal ages o/ that vanished continent 9e-0ria and .as -ore
partic0larly developed in ,tlantis1 .here .ere /irst established the ancient 7ysteries#
,s in the highest o/ the 9odges1 .e are ta0ght1 the tr0th is passed /ro- the great 7aster'
$nitiator to his s0ccessor to the tr0th and the a0thority1 so in the in/erior 9odges1 the sa-e
syste- is /ollo.ed; and .e in o0r .or2 -erely carry on the sa-e tradition# $t is saddening to
see ho. learned ignora-0ses .ith high'so0nding na-es1 or possibly .ith an alphabetical
string o/ acade-ic titles a/ter their na-es1 so-eti-es tal2 abo0t the 7ysteries o/ .hich they
can really 2no. nothing o0tside o/ the scattered data /o0nd i-bodied in old literat0re# They
are -ere boo2-en1 readers1 and not 0nderstanders# $t is also tr0ly pathetic to hear so-e /ol2
tal2 abo0t the non'necessity o/ having a leader1 beca0se they believe that one -an is as
good as another1 and that no -an can be very -0ch better than another1 and to see their
opinion that all this tal2 abo0t spirit0al1 inner light and ill0-ination passed on /ro- initiate to
initiate is >0st thing0-bobberyK
,re they .ise; %0t as2 the- /or proo/ o/ their theory1 and they can give yo0 none# &o proo/
.hatsoever; it is p0re spec0lation# 4n the contrary1 .e -ay point o0t to the- even s0ch /acts
as .e 2no.1 or the things o/ .hich history has le/t certain records in her annals1 .here
invariably yo0 .ill /ind the sa-e old tradition co-ing do.n the ages o/ the passing do.n o/
the 2no.ledge and o/ the a0thority and o/ the doctrine#
&o. .hen .e spea2 o/ 7ysteries and initiations .e 0se those .ords in a sense .hich to 0s
is sacred1 and .ith no .ish or desire1 /ar less .ith any atte-pt1 to create a /alse and
-ischievo0s at-osphere o/ e-otionalis-# :e spea2 o/ /acts# No0 2no. that every -e-ber
o/ the School is -ore or less a scientist1 i#e#1 a @2no.er@ and researcher# :e are ta0ght to
0se o0r brains and o0r -inds and o0r .ills /irst o/ all /or sel/'conI0est1 and then to analyDe
properly o0rsel/ and the .orld .e live in# Aave .e not been told again and again that .e
-0st cons0lt o0r consciences be/ore .e accept anything; $n order to do that1 .e have to
thin2; .e also 2no. that even i/ in doing so .e sho0ld1 through our own 6lindne!! or
inca%acit&/ re>ect a tr0th o//ered to 0s1 .e shall nevertheless have done aright1 beca0se .e
have been /aith/0l to o0rselves and to o0r consciences1 and that the 2ar-a o/ that re>ection
.ill be -erely te-porary1 beca0se the inner -an 0nderstands1 and the tr0th in ti-e .ill da.n
in /aith/0l hearts#
:e are ta0ght that the 7ysteries ? .e ta2e those o/ Breece /or an e3a-ple ? .ere divided
into t.o parts# 9et 0s partic0lariDe and ta2e those o/ Ele0sis5 yo0 .ill re-e-ber that Ele0sis
as a .ord -eans @advent1@ @the co-ing1@ that .hich is co-ing1 the pro-ise# ,s the 7ysteries
o/ Sa-othrace .ere rather .hat .e .o0ld call scienti/ic1 dealing -ore .ith the operations o/
nat0re1 and the origin o/ those operations and the -ethod o/ controlling the-1 and teaching
.hat they led to ? in other .ords1 .hat .e .o0ld today call science; so the teachings at
Ele0sis .ere rather those religio0s and philosophic doctrines o/ esotericis- giving to -en
.hat the great Ro-an orator1 6icero1 called a brighter vie. o/ li/e and a livelier hope as
regards death1 beca0se they ta0ght o/ the things .hich are to be1 -ore partic0larly the so'
called1 and tho0ghtlessly so'called1 @dar2 -ysteries o/ death#@ These Ele0sinia .ere divided
into t.o parts1 as said above1 the 9ess 7ysteries and the Breater 7ysteries# The 9ess
7ysteries .ere celebrated in the early springti-e1 -ore or less abo0t the ti-e o/ the
,nthesteria1 the Flo.er Festival1 and the celebrations too2 place at a s-all to.n called
,grae# Those 7ysteries .ere -ainly dra-atic in /or-1 .ith this one ob>ect in vie.5 to prepare
hi- or her .ho .as initiated into these 9ess 7ysteries better to 0nderstand1 -ore I0ic2ly to
apprehend1 and -ore easily to seiDe .ith the -ind1 that .hich he .as to go thro0gh in the
Breater 7ysteries o/ Ele0sis1 providing that in the interi- and d0ring the ti-e o/ trial he
proved hi-sel/ tr0e and /it and clean#
Even in the days .hen early 6hristianity had s0perseded the degenerate and corr0pt
religions o/ the 7editerranean co0ntries1 even then1 /allen as the Ele0sinia .ere /ro- their
/or-er high state1 yet they .ere considered so highly that initiations still too2 place in the-#
They .ere act0ally /inally stopped on the initiative o/ the pagans the-selves1 the school
closed by an order o/ the 6hristian E-peror E0stinian in 6onstantinople1 b0t closed on the
petition o/ the better o/ the so'called pagans the-selves# The tr0th is that the 7ysteries .ere
not overco-e by 6hristianity1 b0t /ell beca0se o/ intrinsic degeneracy# 6an .e i-agine .hat
those -en -0st have /elt in the day .hen they sa. that .hich .as dearer to the- than li/e
closed and ended by their o.n .ill1 invaded and degraded by degenerate rites and belie/s
and1 do0btless1 also by the 6hristian /anatics;
&o. the dra-atiDations in the 9ess 7ysteries .ere not .hat .e .o0ld call plays e3actly; they
.ere plays in one sense beca0se they .ere dra-as# %0t they .ere enacted in the /or- o/
spectacles in .hich the .o0ld'be disciple1 the initiant or the one to be initiated1 had to ta2e
the -ain part hi-sel/ or hersel/# 9et 0s give a concrete e3a-ple1 .hich at least .ill be
interesting and perhaps ill0-inating1 re-e-bering that there .ere vario0s 2inds o/ styles o/
initiations and o/ 7ysteries e3isting in the di//erent co0ntries1 altho0gh /0nda-entally they
.ere all one and still today are one in the great secret sodalities; b0t in each co0ntry the
initiations and 7ysteries too2 on di//erent aspects1 as it .ere1 as /or instance in Aind0stan as
co-pared .ith Breece# The initiator and the neophyte -ight 0se a di//erent lang0age1 and
.ear di//erent clothing1 etc#1 and perhaps go thro0gh a di//erent rite1 and so on and so on# %0t
/0nda-entally the idea .as the sa-e the .orld over# $t -0st be re-e-bered that the S-aller
7ysteries .ere preparations /or the Breater# $n the /or-er1 the candidate .as taught1 and
enacted as a dra-a .hat he .o0ld have to e3perience psychically and spirit0ally in the
Breater $nitiations#
4ne o/ these rites .as the dra-a1 or the trial rather1 that the neophyte .o0ld have to pass
thro0gh in act0ality later1 in the Breater $nitiation1 and it .as the -eeting .ith his inner sel/1
his o.n inner sel/1 not in the vag0e and abstract .ay in .hich .e today spea2 o/ a -an as
having @/o0nd his tr0e sel/@; b0t in the 9ess $nitiation the neophyte .as act0ally p0t thro0gh
training and p0ri/ication in order to /it hi- to 0ndergo the real test1 in .hich he -et his o.n
inner sel/ /ace to /ace1 as another individ0al apparently1 at /irst1 b0t at a still higher initiation to
be blended .ith that other sel/1 his o.n sel/1 his higher sel/#
This rite is one o/ the S-aller 7ysteries1 those o/ p0ri/ication and training1 and .as enacted
at the to.n o/ ,grae1 not /ar /ro- ,thens1 .here the 9ess 7ysteries .ere held1 and it .as
enacted dra-atically# The neophyte .as then and there ta0ght to anticipate and 0nderstand
.hat .as co-ing to hi- i/ he .as s0ccess/0l later in the Breater Rite# Ae .as /ran2ly and
openly told at the last .hat he .as there to -eet i/ he desired to go to the end o/ the path#
,nd si-ilarly .ith the other stages or degrees o/ initiation#
&o. it is not certainly 2no.n ho. -any degrees or secret stages there .ere o/ the Ele0sinia1
b0t .e 2no. that there .ere several; and .e 2no. that to the very end1 be/ore they .ere
/inally closed on acco0nt o/ their degeneration1 they .ere so care/0lly g0arded1 so /aith/0lly
2ept hid1 that to this day scholars are -entally r0nning aro0nd in be.ilder-ent1 in an
endeavor to /ind o0t .hat really .as ta0ght in the Ele0sinia1 in these 7ysteries .hich
aro0sed the ad-iration o/ the greatest -en o/ antiI0ity# $n those o/ Sa-othrace li2e.ise the
circ0-stances o/ secrecy and degree .ere very si-ilar#
Ta2e Egypt5 the pyra-ids1 .e are ta0ght1 .ere si-ply ? the Breat yra-id especially ?
-a>estic initiation'te-ples# There too the 7ysteries and the initiations .ere -ost sacredly
g0arded and 2ept secret# They .ere 2ept only /or those .ho had proved the-selves .orthy1
not by tal2 b0t by act1 and .ho had been tried and tested in -any di//erent .ays# ,nd .hy;
%eca0se it .as a dangero0s -atter /or 0nprepared -inds# 40r Teachers tell 0s plainly that
there .ere three res0lts o/ an initiation5 one s0ccess; another /ail0re1 .hich o/ten -eant
death; and the third !a partial /ail0re" o/ten -eant -adness# %0t s0ccess -eant glory
0nspea2able# :hy .as it that -adness and death so-eti-es ens0ed; Thro0gh any o0t.ard
p0nish-ent; &o# The res0lts .ere .holly /ro- .ithin the candidates the-selves# They .ere
plainly told1 these neophytes5 @6o-e .ith a clean heart1 and glory 0nspea2able and
2no.ledge o/ the gods shall be yo0rs; b0t co-e .ith a perverse and .ic2ed heart1 .ith yo0r
-ind 0ntrained and .ith yo0r .ill 0nset1 and yo0 .ill never be able to /ace that .hich yo0 .ill
have to -eet in the other .orld#@ %eca0se that is .hat the Breater 7ysteries .ere1 a passing
behind the veil o/ this physical shell# &o .onder that the training .as severe1 ard0o0sK Those
ancient -en had high hearts in their bodies and .ise old -inds#
&o. those 7ysteries are not dead today# :e are ta0ght distinctly that the sa-e ancient
tr0ths1 the sa-e entrance into glory1 the sa-e bea0ti/0l realiDation o/ the highest hopes that
-an bears in the secret recesses o/ his heart1 the sa-e s0rpassing 2no.ledge o/ li/e and
being5 all can be had by hi- .ho will! and .ho dare! and .ho 2now! how to 2ee%
!ilent+ That is .hat the 7asters have ta0ght 0s# They also have ta0ght 0s another great tr0th1
that it is not a !ine Hua non /or s0ccess to have a -ighty brain'-ind1 /or they have told 0s
plainly that even so-e o/ their o.n %rothers1 so-e o/ the 7asters the-selves1 are s0ch by
virt0e o/ their spirit0al grande0r1 and not by virt0e o/ any brain'-ind e-inence alone nor o/
any partic0lar -ental po.er; and /0rther that s0ch o/ the 7asters1 spirit0al sons o/ glory1 -ay
stand high even a-ong the-selves# :e are /0rther ta0ght that this brain'-ind o/ o0rs is very
o/ten a hindrance to 0s; it is indeed a -ost 0se/0l servant i/ .e 2eep it a servant1 b0t it is a
-aster .hich .ill inevitably p0t o0r /eet 0pon the le/t'hand path 0nless ill0-ined and g0ided
by the spirit0al nat0re1 beca0se all its tho0ghts are tho0ghts o/ sel/1 and all its thin2ing is /or
grati/ication o/ its o.n desires; its horiDons are li-ited1 and its o0tloo2 is short; its sel/'born
inspirations are /e. and /ar bet.een; and it is -ortal and dies .ith the body# $t depends 0pon
o0rselves as to .hich side o/ o0r nat0re1 the higher or the lo.er1 .e shall1 as :illia- G0an
E0dge 0sed to say1 nail o0r /aith1 pin it there and 2eep it there#
The other -atter -entioned at the beginning o/ o0r st0dy this evening is that o/ the races
thro0gh .hich -an2ind1 as a li/e'.ave1 passes in its >o0rney /ro- the beginning o/ evol0tion
on this globe to its end# No0 .ill re-e-ber that there are seven s0ch root'races .hich /or-
the evol0tionary cycle1 in this /o0rth ro0nd1 .hich is .hat .e call one globe'ro0nd; and .e
are at the present ti-e1 as said be/ore1 in the /o0rth s0brace o/ o0r present /i/th root'race#
There is con/0sion abo0t these races in the -inds o/ so-e st0dents1 beca0se A# #
%lavats2y1 as .as pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting1 .as 0nder the necessity .hen she .rote
o/ 2eeping I0iet1 or rather hid1 certain teachings .hich she .as not then e-po.ered p0blicly
to give o0t# Aad there been the proper appeal /ro- her st0dents1 perhaps she .o0ld have
done so then# ,t any rate1 .e shall give a short o0tline in an atte-pt to ill0strate this rather
di//ic0lt s0b>ect#
9et each line o/ the /ollo.ing diagra- represent a root'race# There are seven lines !or root'
races"1 and yo0 .ill notice that the >0nction'line1 beginning one root'race o0t o/ the preceding
root'race1 is at the -iddle point o/ the /or-er1 that is1 at the /o0rth s0brace o/ the preceding or
-other'race# $t is so in all the lines !or root'races"# &o. .e are at present in the /i/th root'
race1 t.o races short o/ the co-pletion o/ o0r globe'cycle or globe'ro0nd1 and o0r present
/i/th root'race is al-ost at the point1 the -iddle o/ o0r /i/th root'race1 .here the si3th root'race
to co-e .ill branch o//# Each root'race1 each o/ the seven1 is divided in o0r teachings into
seven -inor races as /ollo.s# &otice the rec0rrence o/ the n0-ber seven5
LU,nother na-e -ay be s0ggested .hich is better /or this and the /ollo.ing ter-s#M
:e say 72 years1 beca0se the average -an1 barring accidents and -alignant diseases
.hich -ay carry hi- o// be/ore his ti-e1 0s0ally lives abo0t 72 years# So-e h0-an beings
live -0ch longer1 o/ co0rse# $/ .e too2 co0nt o/ all h0-an deaths ? o/ the babies .ho die in
s0ch n0-bers in in/ancy1 and o/ all .ho die in ship.rec21 and o/ all the -en 2illed in .ars1
and o/ all the -0rders and o/ all the diseases1 and o/ the train and a0to-obile .rec2s1 and o/
all s0ch accidents ? probably the a4eragelength o/ h0-an li/e today .o0ld not be -ore than
1( or 2) years; b0t those cases1 a/ter all1 are e3ceptional# 7an lives today1 on a nat0ral
average1 abo0t 72 years1 barring all accidents1 etc#1 as above s0ggested#
The /ollo.ing is an interesting calc0lation1 o//ered only as a s0ggestive thing# S0ppose that
yo0 desire to calc0late the length o/ ti-e o/ a root'race1 and please 0nderstand that .hat .e
are saying no. is only a ro0gh appro3i-ation# Ta2e then 72 years1 the /a-o0s three score
years and ten in the %ible ? a -ystery'/ig0re1 a ro0nd n0-ber /or 72 ? and -0ltiply it by
seven5 .e get one tribal generation; -0ltiply it by seven again1 .e get one tribal race;
-0ltiply that by seven and .e get one national race1 and yo0r /ig0re .ill co-e to abo0t
2(192) years1 the length o/ the precessional cycle; -0ltiply that by seven again1 and yo0 get
one /a-ily race; -0ltiply that again by seven and yo0 get a secondary s0brace; and -0ltiply
that by seven once -ore and yo0 get a /ig0re .hich is really the entire ti-e period o/ a root'
race# This calc0lation is very ro0gh n0-erically1 and is so intended to be; b0t it is s0ggestive#
No0 see .e do not co0nt the root'race as one o/ the seven here1 b0t -a2e it the all'incl0sive
one1 and .hy; %eca0se i/ .e did so co0nt it1 .e sho0ld be co0nting the pri-ary s0brace
t.ice# , root'race really o0ght to -ean the race .hich originates a thing1 or is its @root#@ $t is
there/ore1 strictly spea2ing1 /ro- the /irst pri-ary s0brace that all the others o/ the series
gro.1 e3actly as the root o/ a tree sends 0p its tr0n21 and the tr0n2 its branches1 the branches
their s-aller branchlets1 the s-aller branchlets still s-aller branchings1 they the t.igs1 .hich
bear the leaves# There/ore1 according to the above series1 it is the pri-ary s0brace .hich
really is theroot'race#
&o. there are seven !please -ar2 again1 seven" root'races in one globe'ro0nd1 that is to
say1 a planetary ro0nd as it passes thro0gh o0r globe# Seven globe'ro0nds eI0al one
planetary ro0nd; seven planetary ro0nds eI0al one 2alpa or -anvantara or =ay o/ %rah-a1
and seven 2alpas pl0s seven planetary pralayas !or seven periods o/ planetary rest" eI0al
one solar 2alpa#
7 Root'Races R 1 Blobe'Ro0nd
7 Blobe'Ro0nds R 1 lanetary Ro0nd
7 lanetary Ro0nds R 1 <alpa R *132)1))) o/ o0r years !pl0s several -ore ciphers"
7 <alpas Q 7 lanetary ralayas R 1 Solar <alpa
These /ig0res are given beca0se they are /0nda-ental# They are acc0rate as /ar as they go#
:e shall have to deal .ith the- in /0t0re st0dies#
lease note in concl0sion that the dra.ing on page 29*1 ill0strating the birth o/ root'races
/ro- each other at the -iddle point o/ each1 eI0ally .ell can represent a pri-ary s0brace or
a secondary s0brace1 or a national race1 or a tribal race1 etc#1 and the reason is obvio0s1
beca0se there are no per/ectly 0niI0e and sing0lar things in nat0re any.here# &at0re does
nothing b0t repeat itsel/1 and the -an .ho said that nat0re never repeats itsel/ 0ttered a
titanic /allacy# &at0re does nothing b0t repeat itsel/# =id yo0 ever see a thing per/ectly 0niI0e
? 0tterly di//erent in all respects /ro- everything else; 4n the contrary1 yo0 see everything
every.here repeating itsel/5 the seasons year in and year o0t; day and night year in and year
o0t; the planets circling aro0nd the s0n contin0ally; their satellites circling aro0nd their
pri-aries in -ore or less the sa-e .ay; and so /orth# There is constant repetition
every.here# , tree in p0tting /orth its /oliage1 p0ts /orth its o.n leaves; it does not p0t /orth
so-ething 0niI0e and 0nheard o/ ? p0-p2in pies or chairs or te-ples or ho0ses; it p0ts /orth
that .hich belongs to it1 as all trees do#
6ycles can be /o0nd in every branch o/ li/e; /or instance1 children are born on the average at
the end o/ ten l0nar -onths or nine solar -onths# , child can live and be per/ectly healthy
and s0ccess/0l1 i/ born at seven -onths a/ter conception1 b0t it is o/ten a child o/ great
sensitiveness1 high'str0ng1 o/ nervo0s te-pera-ent1 and it needs the -ost an3io0s and
loving care1 beca0se it has to /inish its gro.th in the cold o0tside1 and nat0re ta2es t.o other
-onths to do it nor-ally#
&o.1 as said be/ore1 .e shall endeavor at o0r ne3t st0dy to lin2 together the vario0s threads
o/ tho0ght .hich .e have gathered 0p and .eave the- into a .hole so consistent1 so
coherent1 that even o0r brain'-inds can grasp at least so-e notion o/ the s0bli-e the-e that
.e have been st0dying .ithin the last /e. .ee2s#
hapter Twenty-Two
The Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# The $ncarnation o/ the 7anasap0tras#
<no. that the strea- o/ s0perh0-an 2no.ledge and the =eva':isdo- tho0 hast .on1
-0st1 /ro- thysel/1 the channel o/ ,laya1 be po0red /orth into another bed#
<no.1 4 &ar>ol L&al>orM1 tho0 o/ the Secret ath1 its p0re /resh .aters -0st be 0sed to
s.eeter -a2e the 4cean8s bitter .aves ? that -ighty sea o/ sorro. /or-ed o/ the tears o/
-en#
&o. bend thy head and listen .ell1 4 %odhisattva ? 6o-passion spea2s and saith5 @6an
there be bliss .hen all that lives -0st s0//er; Shalt tho0 be saved and hear the .hole
.orld cry;@ ? The :oice o" the Silence/ pp# C71 71
$& 4E&$&B o0r st0dy this evening let 0s read /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $$1 pages
2+1'25
,s the @coats o/ s2in@ o/ -en thic2ened1 and they /ell -ore and -ore into physical sin1 the
interco0rse bet.een physical and ethereal di4ine -an .as stopped# The veil o/ -atter
bet.een the t.o planes beca-e too dense /or even the inner -an to penetrate# The
-ysteries o/ Aeaven and Earth1 revealed to the Third Race by their celestial teachers in
the days o/ their p0rity1 beca-e a great /oc0s o/ light1 the rays /ro- .hich beca-e
necessarily .ea2ened as they .ere di//0sed and shed 0pon an 0ncongenial1 beca0se too
-aterial soil# :ith the -asses they degenerated into Sorcery1 ta2ing later on the shape o/
e3oteric religions1 o/ idolatry /0ll o/ s0perstitions1 and -an'1 or hero'.orship# ,lone a
hand/0l o/ pri-itive -en ? in .ho- the spar2 o/ divine :isdo- b0rnt bright1 and only
strengthened in its intensity as it got di--er and di--er .ith every age in those .ho
t0rned it to bad p0rposes ? re-ained the elect c0stodians o/ the 7ysteries revealed to
-an2ind by the divine Teachers# There .ere those a-ong the-1 .ho re-ained in
their Kuaric condition /ro- the beginning; and tradition .hispers1 .hat the secret
teachings a//ir-1 na-ely1 that these Elect .ere the ger- o/ a Aierarchy which ne4er died
!ince that %eriod5 ?
>The inner an o" the "ir!t K K K onl& change! hi! 6od& "ro tie to tie8 he i! e4er the
!ae/ 2nowing neither re!t nor ,ir4ana/ !%urning De4achan and reaining con!tantl& on
#arth "or the !al4ation o" an2ind+ + + +> >-ut o" the !e4en 4irgin1en DKuaraB "our
!acri"iced the!el4e! "or the !in! o" the world and the in!truction o" the ignorant/ to
reain till the end o" the %re!ent Man4antara+ Though un!een/ the& are e4er %re!ent+
7hen %eo%le !a& o" one o" the/ >.e i! dead>8 6ehold1 he i! ali4e and under another
"or+ The!e are the .ead/ the .eart/ the Soul/ and the Seed o" und&ing 2nowledge+ + +>
# # # Aigher than the @Fo0r@ is only 4&E on Earth as in Aeavens ? that still -ore
-ysterio0s and solitary %eing described in %oo2 $#
? the :ondro0s %eing o/ .ho- .e have spo2en be/ore#
l0nging then directly into o0r st0dy1 let 0s /irst as2 o0rselves one I0estion# :hither are .e
as a race1 as -en1 as thin2ing entities1 traveling1 in .hat direction; The ancient .isdo- tells
0s that .e are traveling inward!1 not 0p1 not do.n1 not to right or to le/t1 not /or.ard or
bac2.ard1 b0tinward!1 leaving the real-s o/ -atter1 ta2ing the- .ith 0s in /act by
spirit0aliDing the in/erior coatings5 traveling in.ards on that path .hich began .ith o0r
descent !i/ yo0 li2e the ter-" into -atter1 into -ani/estation1 and hence/or.ard raising -atter
to.ards spirit1 its real so0rce or root1 /ollo.ing the path which we our!el4e! inwardl& are/ and
-arching in.ards1 ever -ore in.ardly1 0ntil at the cons0--ation o/ all things .e shall attain
a goal1 an end1 even -ore s0pernal than that .hich .e le/t in co--encing o0r peregrination
do.n.ards into e3perience#
The ne3t tho0ght that occ0rs is5 ,re o0r higher nat0res separate /ro- o0rselves1 parado3ical
as it -ay so0nd; ,re they o0rselves; :hat are they; :e all 2no.1 as st0dents1 the
teachings concerning the seven principles o/ -an; b0t .hen .e stop to as2 o0rselves .hat
are these seven principles really ? do they /or- a 0nity1 or is each one o/ the- an entity in
itsel/; ? then .e enter 0pon very di//ic0lt s0b>ects indeed# 9et 0s say /irst that the /o0r lo.er
principles are borro.ed or rather1 perhaps1 e4ol4ed out o" our!el4e! in co-bination .ith
ele-ents dra.n /ro- the co--on storeho0se o/ nat0re1 as -an ta2es into his body /or his
n0trition his /ood /or-ed o/ ato-s1 yet each one o/ those ato-s in itsel/ is the vehicle o/ a
-onad1 -ani/esting in that sphere or plane o/ li/e# %0t o0r three higher principles are each
one a separate entity b0t con>oined into an inseparable 0nity d0ring the -anvantaric cycle#
,nd .e see the reason .hy this is so in st0dying the seventh o/ the seven treas0ries o/
.isdo-1 .hich seventh is the s0pre-e 2ey o/ all the other si3#
:e begin to /or- so-e conception o/ .hat lies be/ore 0s in this st0dy5 ho. 0nity beco-es
-0ltiplicity and ho. -0ltiplicity resolves itsel/ bac2 into 0nity# &ote /irst the di//erence
bet.een one/ unit&1 and union# 3nionis an asse-blage o/ things straitly 0nited
together; unit& is an asse-blage o/ things b0t .ith a co--on head or so0rce1 the s0--it o/
a hierarchy1 /or instance; .hereas one is a -onad1 an individ0al1 and there/ore indivisible#
&o. .e are a union in o0r /o0r lo.er principles; .e are a unit& in o0r three higher principles1
o0r 0pper triad; and .e are one in the three highest1 the highest triad1 so called /or easy
co-prehension#
The three principles /or-ing the 0pper triad e3ist each on its o.n plane1 and .e /eel their
in/l0ence1 beca0se .e are in spirit0al rapport .ith the-# &evertheless each one e3ists on its
o.n plane in conscio0sness and po.er# :e 2no. o/ each only .hat .e have so /ar evolved;
all .e 2no.1 /or instance1 o/ the third principle !co0nting /ro- the top"1 the -anas1 is .hat .e
have so /ar assi-ilated o/ it in this /o0rth ro0nd# $t .ill not be /0lly developed 0ntil the end o/
the ne3t ro0nd# :hat .e call o0r -anas is a generaliDing ter- /or the reincarnating ego ? $
a- no. spea2ing o/ the higher -anas#
T0rning a -o-ent to a collateral s0b>ect1 .e -0st realiDe that all o0r conscio0sness1 i#e#1 the
conscio0sness o/ the ordinary -an1 pertains to this o0r present plane1 b0t that there are
inn0-erable other planes o/ the 2os-os s0rro0nding 0s1 interpenetrating 0s1 and o/ these
other planes each has its o.n entities1 its o.n beings1 thin2ing and 0nthin2ing1 as o0r plane
has1 each class appropriate to its o.n sphere or plane1 and that o0r very earth
interpenetrates the- as they interpenetrate 0s1 and that the reason .e do not see their
habitations and the-1 and their d.ellings1 and the lo.er creat0res living there1 is beca0se o0r
senses are not yet /itted to cogniDe the-1 have not been evolved or trained to 2no. the- or
see the-1 /or o0r physical senses have b0t a very li-ited perception o/ things# %0t there
indeed they are# So-e o/ these planes belong to o0r o.n hierarchy1 and so-e do not# Those
.hich do not1 belong to other hierarchies each having its o.n series o/ planes or .orlds# ,s
in a chord o/ -0sic each note -ay be distinctly heard1 each being separate /ro- the other1
b0t together they /or- a chord1 a -0sical har-ony1 so it is .ith these planes# $t is1 i/ yo0 li2e1
all a -atter o/ di//ering vibrations1 this .ord being 0sed here in its scienti/ic sense# $/ the
vibrations are s0ch that o0r senses can cogniDe the-1 .e see the- then1 or hear the-1 or
to0ch the-1 or taste the-1 or s-ell the-1 as sense perceptions; and i/ o0r senses are
incogniDant o/ the-1 .e 2no. nothing o/ the-# Net they are thereK
Si-ilarly .ith o0r three higher principles1 the 0pper triad# The ego e3ists .ith its o.n
conscio0sness1 and its o.n /orces1 and its o.n d.elling .hich is a @so0l1@ and .e /eel its
e//ects1 .e /eel its /l031 .hich to 0s is an in/l03; and si-ilarly .ith the b0ddhic principle1 and
.ith the at-ic ray# :e say that the at-an is 0niversal1 and so it is; b0t it belongs D!o "ar a!
we are concerned in our %re!ent !tage in e4olutionB to the /o0rth 2os-ic plane1 tho0gh it is
o0r seventh principle#
:hat $ a- trying to say is that the destiny o/ -an is to raise his /oc0s o/ conscio0sness /ro-
the lo.er to the higher; and .ith each step that he -a2es 0p.ards1 or -ore properly
in.ards1 he "ind! a new world/ .ith its o.n inhabitants1 as said above1 .ith its o.n conditions
and @la.s1@ .ith the @habitations@ o/ its inhabitants# ,nd /ollo.ing the ancient a3io- o/ the
Aer-etists1 @,s above1 so belo.1@ .e can see the per/ect tr0th1 the per/ect /idelity to /act1 in
stating that these vario0s planes or rather .orlds ? so-e o/ .hich are i--ensely higher than
o0rs1 so-e only a little higher1 so-e i--ensely lo.er than o0rs1 so-e only a little lo.er ?
that each one o/ these planes or .orlds1 $ repeat1 has its o.n li/e and thin2ing beings1 its o.n
trees1 and its o.n stones1 and its o.n stor-s1 and its o.n /ire1 its o.n inhabitants1 and its
o.n ani-als1 and all the rest o/ the -ani/old and vario0s things and entities1 si-ilar to b0t not
identical .ith the beings .e see aro0nd 0s on o0r plane# Thin2 o/ the vastness o/ the spaces
o/ conscio0sness and being .hich this tho0ght brings ho-e to 0s1 the illi-itability o/ li/e1 its
0tter and per/ect endlessness1 pro-ising endless evol0tion be/ore 0s1 as there have been
endless e3periences and evol0tion behind 0sK The re/lection is an ennobling one#
&o. the s0--it o/ every hierarchy1 as so o/ten said1 is one5 and -ay be considered as one
in three or three in one1 a philosophical conception o/ the ancients .hence the 6hristians got
their dog-a o/ the Trinity# This is the 0pper-ost triad# &e3t co-es a 0nity o/ .hat .e call o0r
0pper triad1 three separate principles per se1 yet bo0nd together in a co-pact 0nity in the
seventh or highest principle1 the at-an1 .hich is the sel/1 the @0niversal sel/hood1@ not o0r
ego1 b0t that /eeling or conscio0sness o/ sel/hood .hich is the sa-e in yo0 and in -e and in
every h0-an being1 and even in all the in/erior beings o/ the hierarchy1 yea1 even in those o/
the beast 2ingdo- 0nder 0s1 and di-ly perceptible even in the plant .orld1 and .hich is
latent even in the -inerals# This is the p0re cognition1 the abstract idea o/ !el"+ $t di//ers not at
all thro0gho0t the hierarchy1 e3cept in degree o/ sel/'recognition# :hen yo0 say !el"/ yo0
-ean the sa-e thing that $ do; b0t .hen yo0 say &!el"/ 0 a 0 and not another/ that is the
conscio0sness o/ yo0r ego1 and it is not the sa-e as .hen $ say 0 a 0# :hen this ego is
raised /ro- the lo.er planes to the higher1 it co-es nat0rally in to0ch .ith higher things#
Fro- the in/erior conscio0sness .e beco-e by evol0tion conscio0s o/ o0rsel/ as a -an1
or !el"'conscio0s; and /ro- the -an .e beco-e a %0ddha or a 6hrist1 reaching /0ll
e3panded !el"'conscio0sness# ,nd there are therea/ter other planes still higher than this1 o/
.hich .e no. say no -ore# Finally1 the /o0r lo.est principles /or- a union1 nonper-anent1
transitory1 and dissol0ble at death#
Re-e-ber that these planes or .orlds e3tend as s0ch in both directions1 in.ards and
o0t.ards ? one reaching ever into greater s0periority to 0s1 /ro- o0r standpoint; and the
other direction going do.n.ards or1 as it is so-eti-es e3pressed1 along the path o/ the le/t
hand#
&o. let 0s read another e3tract1 as o0r ne3t s0b>ect1 /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1
page (725
Esoterically the teaching di//ers5 The divine1 p0rely ,di'%0ddhiconad -ani/ests as the
0niversal %0ddhi !the Maha16uddhi or 7ahat in Aind0 philosophies" the spirit0al1
o-niscient and o-nipotent root o/ divine intelligence1 the highest ania undi or the
9ogos# Thi! descends @li2e a /la-e spreading /ro- the eternal Fire1 i--oveable1 .itho0t
increase or decrease1 ever the sa-e to the end@ o/ the cycle o/ e3istence1 and beco-es
0niversal li/e on the 70ndane lane# Fro- this lane o/ con!ciou! 9i/e shoot o0t1 li2e
seven /iery tong0es1 the Sons o/ 9ight !the logoi o/ 9i/e"; then the =hyani'%0ddhas o/
conte-plation5 the concrete /or-s o/ their /or-less Fathers ? the Seven Sons o/
9ight1 !till the!el4e!/ to .ho- -ay be applied the %rah-anical -ystic phrase5 @Tho0 art
8TA,T8 ? 9rah+@ $t is /ro- these =hyani'%0ddhas that e-anate their chha&a! !Shado.s"
the %odhisattvas o/ the celestial real-s1 the prototypes o/ the !u%er'terrestrial
%odhisattvas1 and o/ the terrestrial %0ddhas1 and /inally o/ -en# The @Seven Sons o/
9ight@ are also called @Stars#@
S0bli-e beyond ordinary h0-an co-prehension are the tr0ths o/ li/e and the -ysteries o/
beingK :e are ta0ght that there e3ists a Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 .hich A# # %lavats2y
so-eti-es called the Aierarchy o/ 7ercy or o/ ity# This is the light'side o/ nat0re as
contrasted .ith its -atter'side or shado.'side1 its night'side# $t is /ro- this Aierarchy o/
6o-passion that ca-e those se-idivine entities abo0t the -iddle period o/ the third root'
race o/ this ro0nd1 and incarnated in the se-iconscio0s1 I0asi'senseless -en o/ that period1
those advanced entities other.ise 2no.n as the solar 9has1 as the Tibetans call the-1 the
solar spirits1 .ho .ere the -en o/ a /or-er 2alpa .ho d0ring the third root'race th0s
sacri/iced the-selves in order to give 0s intellect0al light; incarnating in those senseless
psychophysical shells in order to a.a2en into a divine /la-e o/ egoity and sel/'conscio0sness
the sleeping egos .hich .e then .ere# They are o0rselves beca0se belonging to the sa-e
spirit'ray that .e do; yet .e1 -ore strictly spea2ing1 .ere those hal/'0nconscio0s1 hal/'
a.a2ened egos .ho- they to0ched .ith the divine /ire o/ their o.n being# This o0r
@a.a2ening@ .as called by A# # %lavats2y the incarnation o/ theana!a%utra!/ or @sons o/
-ind@ or light# Aad that incarnation not ta2en place1 .e indeed sho0ld have contin0ed o0r
evol0tion by -erely @nat0ral@ ca0ses1 b0t it .o0ld have been slo. al-ost beyond
co-prehension1 al-ost inter-inable; b0t that act o/ sel/'sacri/ice1 thro0gh their i--ense pity1
their i--ense love1 tho0gh1 indeed1 acting 0nder 2ar-ic i-p0lse1 a.a2ened the divine /ire in
o0r o.n selves1 gave 0s light and co-prehension and 0nderstanding# So /ro- that ti-e .e
o0rselves beca-e the @Sons o/ the Bods@; the /ac0lty o/ sel/'conscio0sness in 0s .as
a.a2ened1 o0r eyes .ere opened1 responsibility beca-e o0rs1 and o0r /eet .ere set then
de/initely 0pon the path1 that inner path1 I0iet1 leading in.ards bac2 to o0r spirit0al ho-e#
$n spea2ing o/ initiations at o0r last -eeting1 yo0 re-e-ber it .as pointed o0t that initiation is
in /act a I0ic2ening process1 b0t it is also so-ething else; it is a copy1 an endeavor to copy1
.hat .as done by the incarnation o/ those lords o/ 0nderstanding1 sons o/ light# $t is an
atte-pt to sti-0late1 to a.a2en into activity1 the inner spirit0al sel/1 to enliven 0s -ore
I0ic2ly1 to enable 0s to see and 0nderstand1 saving those .ho s0ccess/0lly pass thro0gh the
tests aeons and aeons o/ s0//ering and stri/e and1 noblest o/ all1 enabling those .hose -inds
have beco-e enlightened1 the-selves to do the sa-e /or their brothers .ho are less
progressed than they#
:hy is it that /ro- the very beginning all the Teachers .ho have appeared a-ong -en
contin0ally teach 0s the d0ty as .ell as the need o/ sel/'control1 and o/ pity and o/
co-passion and o/ spirit0al 0nderstanding; :hy; %eca0se these things verily are the 2eys1
these are the open sesa-es1 these are the things .hich 0nloc2 the portals1 not -erely to let
in the light1 b0t .hen the light is seen1 to give it again to others1 /or .ho is the -an .ho .o0ld
not /ollo. it;
9et 0s .rite do.n the /ollo.ing na-es1 cited in the above e3tract /ro-The Secret
Doctrine/ and red0ce the- to hierarchical /or- so that they .ill -ore easily re-ain in the
-e-ory;
1# ,di'b0ddhi#
2# The second is -aha'b0ddhi1 .hich is in /act -ahat# $t is li2e.ise the First 9ogos1
adopting the Bree2 -ethod o/ no-enclat0re#
3# The third is 0niversal light .hich is also li/e1 also called in the Sans2rit1 divine -atter1
divine nat0re1 daivipra2riti; the Second 9ogos#
*# The sons o/ light1 called the logoi o/ li/e1 the Third 9ogos#
(# The dhyani'b0ddhas1 the b0ddhas o/ conte-plation or
C# -editation#
7# The celestial bodhisattvas1 a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @he .hose nat0re is essentially
celestial .isdo- or bodhi#@
+# The s0perterrestrial or s0perh0-an bodhisattvas#
9# The -an0shya'b0ddhas1 or the h0-an b0ddhas#
1)# 7en#
This is the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 e-anating or evolving /ro- the s0pernal regions1 and
they are the /lo.ers o/ the evol0tionary co0rse; and these regions the-selves /or- the /irst
!or the tenth" or the root1 i/ yo0 li2e1 o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 co0nting 0p.ards or
do.n.ards#
&o. the essential ai- o/ this hierarchy1 the .hole p0rpose and stri/e1 i/ yo0 li2e the .ord1 o/
evol0tion1 is to raise the corr0ptible into incorr0ptibility1 to raise i-per/ection to per/ection1 to
raise the -ortal so that it shall p0t on i--ortality or1 in other .ords1 to raise the personal -an
to be the individ0al -an1 to -a2e o/ the h0-an a divine being# The average -an has o/
co0rse not yet reached that s0bli-e stage1 and hence1 as .as pointed o0t be/ore1 there is no
abiding principle .hatsoever in%er!onal -an1 beca0se he is co-posed only o/ the /ive lo.er
principles; and .hen .e say personal -an .e -ean the -an o/ this period1 o/ this epoch1 the
evolving entity o/ the present ti-e1 the %er!on+ %0t overshado.ing this person1 incarnating in
this person !i/ .e can 0se the ter- incarnating" there is the divine /la-e1 there is the divine
seed1 there is the constant i-p0lse /ro- the god .ithin1 telling 0s al.ays >*oe u% higher/
coe to e8 6e the %ath and wal2 it8 0 a the wa&/ the truth/ and the li"e> ? in the heart o/
each one o/ 0s# $t is there; and as soon as the personal -an con!ciou!l& allies hi-sel/ .ith
this divine spar21 he beco-es thereby i-personal and i--ortal in his inner conscio0sness
and there/ore incorr0ptible1 at least 0ntil the end o/ this -aha'2alpa; and then his s0bli-e
destiny is to enter into that ine//able nirvana .here he .ill re-ain in indescribable bliss and
0niversal 0nderstanding 0ntil the ne3t 2alpa begins1 .hence be starts o0t ane. b0t on a /ar
-ore elevated plane# Ae starts o0t as a leader o/ that ne. h0-anity# Ae then /inds it his t0rn
to beco-e one o/ that band or co-pany or body o/ sons o/ -ind or light1 hi-sel/ in his t0rn to
endo. .ith sel/'conscio0sness and /0t0re spirit0al i--ortality the se-iconscio0s beings o/
that cycle to co-e#
%odhisattva5 this is a 2ey.ord# No0 .ill re-e-ber it .as pointed o0t at a /or-er st0dy that
the dhyani'b0ddhas1 .ho are /i/th in the en0-eration o/ this Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 these
lords o/ conte-plation1 are seven in n0-ber1 and each one o/ the- has governance or rather
has the overseeing o/ one o/ o0r ro0nds# !Re-e-ber that there are seven ro0nds in a 2alpa#"
Ae is its head1 the constant sti-0lator behind that /orce in nat0re .hich .e /eel al.ays .ithin
0s# That @/orce@ is the divine 0rge1 as philosophers -ight call it# $t is not1 ho.ever1 yet tr0ly
divine; beca0se noble1 great1 as these spirit0al beings tr0ly are1 they have not yet reached
the s0--it o/ their o.n hierarchy; b0t their great .or2 is .hat .e -ay call the divine 0rge1
the p0sh1 behind the evol0tionary process# F0rther1 each o/ these dhyani'b0ddhas in hi-sel/
is a hierarchy1 >0st as .e pointed o0t that every ato- is a hierarchy1 every -an is a hierarchy
and1 indeed1 every entity is a hierarchy o/ greater or o/ in/erior degree1 beca0se everything
that is co-posite is necessarily divisible into degrees o/ spirit0al and intellect0al e3cellence#
Ao. else co0ld the evolving beings learn; $/ -an e3isted in nothing b0t the pristine p0rity o/
his divine essence1 .hat .o0ld there be /or hi- to learn1 ho. co0ld he learn; Each one o/
these dhyanis has1 or gives birth to1 so to say1 or e-anates or evolves /ro- hi-sel/1 seven
@sons1@ called celestial bodhisattvas1 and each celestial bodhisattva has charge o/ one o/ the
globes o/ o0r planetary chain1 so that not only each planetary ro0nd1 b0t each globe also has
its spirit0al head# $t is a hierarchy in that sense again1 as .ell#
F0rther-ore1 let 0s ta2e o0r earth1 the /o0rth globe1 as a /0rther e3a-ple# The celestial
bodhisattva o/ o0r globe in his t0rn gives birth to seven s0perh0-an bodhisattvas1 and these
s0perh0-an bodhisattvas or s0perterrestrial bodhisattvas have1 each one1 charge o/ one
race o/ the seven root'races in each ro0nd and give birth by a .onder/0l process1 .hich .e
shall shortly describe1 to seven h0-an b0ddhas ? each one1 each s0perh0-an bodhisattva1
to a race'b0ddha# , bodhisattva1 as e3plained e3oterically1 -eans one .ho in another
incarnation or in a /e. -ore incarnations .ill beco-e a b0ddha# That is tr0e1 b0t it is an
e3oteric teaching1 that is to say1 it is inco-plete1 and there/ore -isleading# , bodhisattva
/ro- the standpoint o/ o0r occ0lt teachings1 o0r esoteric teachings1 is -ore than that# :hen a
-an1 a h0-an being1 has reached the point .here his ego beco-es conscio0s1 /0lly so1 o/ its
inner divinity1 beco-es clothed .ith the b0ddhic ray; .here1 so to say1 the personal -an has
p0t on the gar-ents o/ inner i--ortality in act0ality1 on this earth1 here and no.1 that -an is
a bodhisattva# Ais higher principles have nearly reached nirvana# :hen they do so /inally1
s0ch a -an is a b0ddha1 a h0-an b0ddha1 a -an0shya'b0ddha# 4bvio0sly1 i/ s0ch a
bodhisattva .ere to reincarnate1 in the ne3t incarnation or in a very /e. /0t0re incarnations
therea/ter1 he .o0ld be a -an0shya'b0ddha# , b0ddha1 in the esoteric teaching1 is one
.hose higher principles can learn nothing -ore; they have reached nirvana and re-ain
there; b0t the spirit0ally a.a2ened personal -an1 the bodhisattva1 the person -ade
se-idivine1 to 0se pop0lar lang0age1 instead o/ choosing his re.ard in the nirvana o/ a less
degree1 re-ains on earth o0t o/ pity and co-passion /or in/erior beings1 and beco-es .hat is
called a nir-ana2aya# , nir-ana2aya is a bodhisattva1 a personal -an -ade se-idivine# Ae
clothes hi-sel/ in a nir-ana2ayic vest0re# The nir-ana2aya1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber1 is one .ho
is a co-plete1 thin2ing1 spirit0al entity1 -in0s the physical body only#
9et 0s ta2e an e3a-ple o/ ho. this .or2s# Re-e-ber1 please1 apropos o/ o0r s0b>ect1 that
.e are st0dying the nat0re o/ the :ondro0s %eing only incidentally at present1 as being an
ill0stration tr0ly s0bli-e o/ the seventh treas0ry o/ .isdo-1 the at-a'vidya1 the 2no.ledge o/
sel/# &o. let 0s ta2e o0r ill0stration# So-e ti-e a/ter Ba0ta-a %0ddha died1 there .as born
in the so0th o/ $ndia a -an .ho -ade a great -ar2 in the $ndian .orld therea/ter# Ais na-e
.as San2aracharya# )char&a is a Sans2rit .ord -eaning @teacher@ or @-aster@; and the
na-e o/ the -an hi-sel/ .as San2ara; the t.o .ords >oined together -a2e San2aracharya1
@San2ara the teacher1@ as the Aind0 Fedantists o/ the ,d.aita or nond0alistic school p0t it#
&o. here again is a very interesting thing1 brie/ly all0ded to be/ore# San2aracharya .as an
avatara1 .hich -eans an incarnation o/ a @god1@ and yet he stood less high than the %0ddha
!Ba0ta-a" .ho had preceded hi-1 altho0gh the latter .as a -an# Ao. shall .e e3plain that
.onder; Easily# The %0ddha Ba0ta-a beca-e a b0ddha through hi! own e""ort!1 thro0gho0t
inn0-erable ages; .hereas San2aracharya .as in one -ystical sense .hat -ay tr0ly be
called an ill0sion /ro- the standpoint o/ esoteric -anhood# San2ara .as a -an1 there .as a
physical body1 there .as the great spirit0al essence .ithin; 6ut there had 6een no %re4iou!
San2arachar&a+ San2aracharya per se1 spirit0ally1 .as a divine ray# The at-an and the
b0ddhi1 born in the body o/ this %rah-ana1 .ere there1 also the 2a-a1 the prana1 the astral
-odel'body1 and the physical body ? b0t no ill0-inated personal ego; and in order that that
avatara at that ti-e in history -ight do its .or21 the bodhisattva o/ the %0ddha entered into
that body and gave it light1 provided the ill0-inating ego1 th0s repeating the aeon'old -ystery
o/ sel/'sacri/ice1 ta2ing on the @sins@ !or 2ar-ic heritage /ro- parents" s0ch as they -ay have
been1 i/ any1 o/ that body1 th0s giving the chance /or that divine ray1 that avatara1 to .or2 in
the .orld5 providing the vehicle thro0gh .hich the divine ray -ight -ani/est to and in the
.orld o/ -an#
That is the secret o/ an avatara; b0t not e4er& bodhisattva is necessarily the vehicle o/ an
avatara1 /or the avataras co-e at partic0lar and speci/ied periods# %0ddhas also co-e at
partic0lar and speci/ied periods1 b0t leave behind the- a bodhisattva1 their ego1 their
ill0-inated thin2ing part1 the nir-ana2aya1 devoted to the .or2 o/ saving the race1 /or o/ s0ch
is the conscio0s part o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion on o0r globe#
This .as one o/ the ancient 7ystery'teachings in the old 7ystery Schools#
%0t that is not all there is to this tr0e and .ondro0s -ystery# This sa-e bodhisattva1 .e are
ta0ght1 also provided so-e cent0ries later the conscio0s vehicle1 the egoic po.er1 in the
person called Ees0s1 in alestine# These are s0b>ects1 ho.ever1 .hich .e cannot go into
-ore deeply tonight# They are only an ill0stration ho. this Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion .or2s on
earth in its s0bli-e overseeing and protective .or2 o/ and /or the h0-an race#
:e t0rn no. to so-e I0estions .hich have been handed in1 /ive o/ the- in n0-ber .hich1
be/ore .e close this evening1 .e shall read and do o0r best to ans.er# $ -ention this no.
be/ore contin0ing o0r s0b>ect1 beca0se the very the-e 0pon .hich .e have to0ched in
connection .ith the %0ddha Ba0ta-a and Ees0s is -entioned in these I0estions1 I0estions
.hich all o/ 0s probably have as2ed o0rselves1 and have h0nted /or ans.ers to the-#
:e have no. gained so-e idea o/ .hat .e -ean by sel/'2no.ledge1 o/ o0r 0nity .ith all1 o/
ho. o0r individ0ality .as born1 as it .ere1 o/ heaven and o/ earth5 the inner divine ray and
the lo.er personal -an1 the latter raised 0p.ards 0ntil he beco-es one .ith that divine ray1
th0s beco-ing a /it and p0ri/ied vehicle /or it# :e have also seen that the st0dy o/ the
:ondro0s %eing is a -ost s0bli-e ill0stration o/ the e3alted spirit0al state to .hich .e
sho0ld attain1 and shall attain1 r0n .e s0ccess/0lly the race#
&o. let 0s go a little /arther in o0r tho0ght in connection .ith this :ondro0s %eing# :e have
seen that he or it is both ? as A# # %lavats2y said1 0sing pop0lar lang0age ? o/ heaven and
o/ earth# Ais roots are the dhyani'b0ddha o/ this ro0nd1 and the ray reaches hi- as a -an
thro0gh the celestial bodhisattva e-anated by the dhyani'b0ddha1 and also thro0gh the
s0perterrestrial or s0perh0-an bodhisattva in 0lti-ate charge o/ o0r root'race# The
:ondro0s %eing is here considered in his !or its" racial aspect# &ote .ell1 ho.ever1 that there
is also a :ondro0s %eing /or o0r globe; also one /or the entire planetary chain1 etc#
There is a tradition1 and o0r Teachers tell 0s that it is a tradition /o0nded on tr0th1 that even
0nto this day there e3ists in 6entral ,sia a certain -ystical and -ysterio0s land1 or district i/
yo0 li2e# $t is called Sa-bhala# This is a .ord 2no.n in Sans2rit literat0re1 b0t beca0se the
sayings and legends regarding it are connected .ith .hat o0r sel/'s0//icient E0ropean
Sans2ritists and 4rientalists call @pagan s0perstition@ and the @love o/ the 4rientals /or
i-agery1@ and so /orth1 o0r E0ropean scholars say that it is a -yth# %lind -enK $t is an act0al
district on earth1 in a certain part o/ Tibetan territory1 and has been /or ages the s0b>ect o/
-0ch -ystical spec0lation1 and re-ains so to this day# $t is the @ho-e@ o/ o0r e3alted
Teachers# $t is li2e.ise the @ho-e@ o/ the :ondro0s %eing considered as -an1 or in his racial
aspect# This :ondro0s %eing incarnates hi-sel/ /ro- age to age at .ill and at pleas0re1 b0t
never leaves the d0ty he has ta2en 0pon hi-sel/1 nor .ill he ever drop it 0ntil his .or2 is
done# Ae is the spirit0al bond and lin2 o/ the vario0s bodhisattvas and b0ddhas o/ the
Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion .ith s0perior .orlds and .ith 0s and the lo.er beings o/ o0r ro0nd#
This land o/ Sa-bhala is described as a place o/ great bea0ty1 s0rro0nded by a high range o/
-o0ntains# $t is said that no h0-an eye .ill ever see it 0nless per-itted to see it# $t is said
that to this land o/ Sa-bhala go those .ho are @called@ there1 so-eti-es to ret0rn and
so-eti-es to re-ain; and that there1 s0pre-e over all the 7asters1 reigns the h0-an aspect
o/ this :ondro0s %eing1 the Breat $nitiator1 the Breat Sacri/ice#
These are the teachings; and it is /0rther said that /ro- this land1 spirit0ally1 contin0ally1 and
also in act0al physical shape at cyclical critical periods1 go /orth 7asters into the .orld# 6an
any tho0ght/0l and spirit0al -ind read A# # %lavats2y8s story and history1 .hat she says and
.hat she did1 .itho0t reading bet.een the lines and behind the .ords; Aave .e ever ta2en it
into o0r hearts ho. -0ch it -eant /or her1 and to her1 .hen she spo2e o/ her @going ho-e@;
Aave .e ever considered .hat -ight have been incarnate in that .o-an'body; The saviors
ta2e 0p bodies1 so-eti-es1 in this -anner1 as they please /ro- age to age1 and se3 itsel/
-atters little1 tho0gh 0s0ally -an'bodies are selected# S0ch physical body'instr0-ents as
are -ost appropriate /or the .or2 to be acco-plished are the ones chosen#
:e are /0rther told that these /o0r 20-ras o/ .ho- .e have read this evening ? @higher than
the 8Fo0r8 is only 4&E@ ? are spirit0ally and originally the /o0r celestial bodhisattvas o/ the
/o0r globes o/ o0r ro0nd1 and by correspondence o/ the /o0r co-pleted root'races o/ o0r
earth1 higher than .ho- there is none on earth e3cept this 4&E# 9et 0s ta2e these .onder/0l
teachings into o0r hearts and -a2e the- a part o/ 0sK There is in/inite bea0ty in the-1 hope
0nspea2able; there is spirit0al li/e1 there is intellect0al health#
:hat is the -atter .ith -en8s -inds; =oes not every one o/ 0s 2no. that the average
h0-an being .on8t ta2e tr0th .hen he sees it1 0nless it accord .ith his preconceptions; ,nd
.hy is this; %eca0se his -ind is so /0ll o/ and so con/0sed .ith his o.n brain'-ind ideas1
.ith his o.n opinions1 .hich he thin2s are so -0ch s0perior to anything that co-es to hi-
/ro- any other so0rce1 especially i/ /ro- an i-personal so0rce# :e are all in the sa-e
-ental condition; .e are all c0rsed .ith these -olds o/ -ind .hich blind 0s# Every one o/ 0s1
in di//erent degrees1 do0btless1 so-e less than others; b0t .e are all c0rsed .ith it by o0r
o.n .ill1 and all .e need to do is to e3ercise o0r .ill and brea2 these -olds o/ -ind1 in order
to let in the light1 and the spirit0al li/e1 and the 0nderstanding1 yea1 and holy co-passion#
:hat 2eeps all these o0t o/ o0r -inds and hearts as an active /orce e3cept these -olds o/
-ind; @Bive 0p yo0r li/e i/ ye .o0ld /ind it#@
So-eti-es -en -ay acc0se yo0 and say that yo0 are atheists beca0se yo0 do not believe in
a personal Bod# 9et -e read >0st here .hat a great Bree2 thin2er said on that s0b>ect .hen
he .as acc0sed o/ @atheis-#@ ,nd let -e say1 be/ore reading5 athei!t -eant a-ong the
Bree2s one .ho did not accept the gods o/ the -0ltit0de1 the -ythologic gods o/ the State# $t
.as no s0ch ter- o/ opprobri0- and hatred as it has beco-e 0nder the 6hristian theological
dispensation# $t -eant rather1 @No0 are a radicalK@ ? not -0ch i/ anything -ore# %0t the
6hristians have t0rned that per/ectly legiti-ate .ord ? .hich -eant one .ho accepted not
the gods o/ the State ? into an e3pression o/ hatred1 signi/ying -oral degradation# Re-e-ber
that the 6hristians the-selves .ere called atheists by the pagans1 si-ply beca0se they did
not accept the -ythologic gods o/ the State; and the 6hristians1 .hen they beca-e po.er/0l1
retaliated in 2ind1 and called the pagans atheists1 beca0se they re/0sed to accept the Ee.ish'
6hristian Bod1 Eehovah#
%0t .hat said Epic0r0s1 called by later ages than his o.n an atheist1 and a sensationalist1
and possibly by every other evil'so0nding epithet .hich -en in hatred can heap 0pon one
.ho- they disli2e; @The gods are1 yet they are not .hat the -0ltit0de i-agine the- to be#
The -an .ho denies the e3istence o/ the gods .orshiped by the -0ltit0de is neither an
in/idel nor an atheist; b0t he .ho thin2s the gods are .hat the -0ltit0de hold1 is an atheist
and i-pio0s#@
&o. o0r ti-e /or this evening is dra.ing to a close# :e ta2e 0p the I0estions above spo2en
o/# These I0estions -ay have occ0rred1 do0btless have occ0rred1 to each one o/ 0s; and
perhaps .e have searched /or ans.ers# $ .ill give the- as i/ they had been as2ed /ro- the
/loor here5
$ 0nderstood yo0 to say in the Th0rsday -eeting1 one .ee2 ago1 that Ees0s and
,polloni0s .ere nir-ana2ayas# $n 0!i! 3n4eiled/vol0-e $$1 page 1(91 A# # %# says that
.hile Ees0s and others .ere 0nited to their spirits per-anently1 ,polloni0s and others o/
his class .ere so 0nited only at intervals# $ sho0ld thin2 a nir-ana2aya .o0ld be
per-anently 0nited to his spirit1 .hen .or2ing on this earth#
This I0estion has been largely ans.ered by .hat .e have already e3plained to be the
-eaning o/ a bodhisattva# , nir-ana2aya is a !tateass0-ed by or entered into by a
bodhisattva# :hen that state is ended the nir-ana2aya ends# Ka&a -eans @body1@ @vehicle#@
There/ore1 San2aracharya1 <rishna1 9ao'tse1 Ees0s1 .ere avataras in di//ering degrees#
There .as a divine ray .hich ca-e at the cyclic ti-e o/ each s0ch incarnation1 and the
connecting lin21 the /la-e o/ -ind1 .as provided in each s0ch case by a -e-ber o/ the
Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# %0t these avataras .ere not all eI0ally great# ,polloni0s1 .hile not
an avatara1 .as a nir-ana2aya ? a bodhisattva# ,s said be/ore1 the bodhisattva stands
act0ally1 in the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 higher than an avatara1 in the sa-e .ay as a -an
.ho has gained divinity thro0gh his o.n e//orts1 and re-ains behind in the .orld o/ -en o0t
o/ co-passion /or it1 and in order to help it spirit0ally1 really stands higher than the devas or
gods in their crystalliDed cold p0rity#
Ees0s1 and others s0ch as <rishna and 9ao'tse1 .ere 0nited to their spirits per-anently#
4bvio0sly this -eans not the physical bodies o/ those great -en1 b0t that the partic0lar
at-a'b0ddhic ray .hich .as called on earth Ees0s1 or <rishna1 or 9ao'tse1 in/or-ed -en .ho
nat0rally .ere alwa&!0nited to their spirits1 tho0gh each -ani/ested thro0gh a bodhisattva'
nir-ana2aya# They co0ld be nothing else# They co0ld not be an avatara thro0gh a being
in/erior to a bodhisattva# ,polloni0s and the %odhisattva Ba0ta-a and others o/ his noble
type1 .ere not per-anently allied to their spirits1 or rather .ere not -erely1 solely1 at-a'
b0ddhic rays1 beca0se they .ere -en -ade per/ect thro0gh e3perience5 personal -en
beco-e se-idivine1 and act0ally1 as said1 s0ch a being stands /ar higher than a spirit0al ray
or -onad per se1 beca0se s0ch as the bodhisattvas are the /ine /lo.ers o/ evol0tion#
&e3t I0estion5
,t one Th0rsday evening -eeting1 it .as declared that the .ords o/ the Ser-on on the
7o0nt .ere not the .ords o/ Ees0s1 b0t gatherings o/ ancient .isdo- co-piled by so-e
later .riter# $ don8t 0nderstand >0st ho. in <atherine Tingley8s addresses1 etc#1 this
Ser-on and Ees0s are al.ays placed together as one being the a0thor o/ the other# $ got
the i-pression at this -eeting that Ees0s .as -erely an $nitiate Ee.1 b0t not nearly o/
s0ch grand stat0re as to co--and the adoration o/ all 6hristians# Ao.ever1 perhaps $ did
not hear correctly#
40r I0estion is here /ra-ed in a -ost care/0l -anner# $n the /irst place1 then1 it is not to be
said1 and it .as not said1 that the Ser-on on the 7o0nt .as not the logia or @.ords@ o/
Ees0s# :hat .as said1 inadeI0ately do0btless on acco0nt o/ the shortness o/ ti-e1 .as that
the Ser-on on the 7o0nt1 as .e no. have it in the &e. Testa-ent1 .as in all probability
co-posed in -0ch the sa-e -anner as the /o0r canonical Bospels .ere co-posed#
=o0btless it is based on the logia and sayings o/ the 7aster1 Ees0s# UnI0estionably a -an1
Ees0s1 lived# UnI0estionably he had a school# UnI0estionably he had his disciples#
UnI0estionably he ta0ght the- and his sayings .ere treas0red by his disciples; b0t1 as ti-e
.ent on1 -0ch .as /orgotten1 and they .ere revised and edited1 and .e no. have the- in
the /or- in .hich they appear in the &e. Testa-ent# This .as rendered easy eno0gh by the
/act that a good deal in those .ritings .as on -atters o/ -ore or less co--on philosophical1
or even esoteric1 2no.ledge1 -ore or less c0rrent in the tho0ght o/ the day1 and it reI0ired
b0t little s2ill to .eave together these ideas into a -ore or less logical .hole# The very /act
that the .ell'2no.n contradictions and incongr0ities in the /o0r Bospels1 .hen co-pared1
prove vario0s redactions by di//erent .riters sho.s that they .ere co-piled /ro- di//ering
bases o/ theory# For the theosophist1 certain e3pressions 0sed therein sho. hi- that the
esotericis- o/ Syria played a large part in their co-pilation1 as .as nat0ral eno0gh# Ees0s
ta0ght 0niversal tr0ths; his hal/'instr0cted /ollo.ers -is0nderstood -0ch# Those e3pressions
and ter-s .ere 0sed in the 7ystery Schools o/ the eastern 7editerranean .orld o/ that
period1 b0t do not belong to o0r School; and as Ees0s certainly belonged to o0r School1 the
pres0-ption is1 as said1 that his sayings had been @to0ched 0p@ and .ith e3traneo0s -atter
/or-ed into the /o0r Bospels# So-ebody or rather so-ebodies do0btless tho0ght the
scattered sayings o/ the Teacher co0ld be i-proved 0pon ? -ade @-ore clear and easy#@
S0ch see-s to be the /ate o/ nearly all great teachings# There is absol0tely no preventive o/ it
e3cept the /aith/0l hearts o/ -en and .o-en .ho stand to the death /or the p0re teachings o/
the one .ho gave the- light and an a.a2ened inner li/e# 9et 0s never /orget itK
40r I0estioner .as correct in the i-pression he received that Ees0s .as stated to be an
$nitiate Syrian ? a Ee. i/ yo0 li2e# :e spea2 no. o/ Ees0s the -an; b0t $ do not thin2 that .e
ever said that he sho0ld co--and1 in any circ0-stances1 the @adoration@ o/ the 6hristians or
o/ anybody else1 beca0se s0ch .orship is a thing precisely /orbidden to all /ollo.ers o/ the
tr0th ? i-personal and ine//able# That idea is a -is0nderstanding o/ o0r -eaning by the
I0estioner#
Aere is another I0estion5
,nother perple3ing thing to -e is the -any di//erent .ays in .hich the 71 91 and 1)
principles o/ -an and the 0niverse are en0-erated# $n 0n!truction! &os# $ and $$ by A# #
%lavats2y1 it is said that at-an is not really a principle o/ -an at all1 b0t that the a0ric
envelope -a2es 0p the seventh# Net in o0r esoteric -eetings1 at-an is o/ten spo2en o/
as belonging to -an# The esoteric and e3oteric en0-eration o/ these principles di//ers1
and o/ten -anas is called b0t one principle1 then again divided into t.o and the lo.er
-anas >oined .ith the 2a-a principle1 etc#
These .ell'ta2en points1 o/ co0rse1 are so-ething that each one -0st solve /or hi-sel/1 by
st0dying the literat0re .hich .e already have1 so ably .ritten by o0r older st0dents# 4/
necessity the seven principles are s0b>ect to di//erent -ethods o/ en0-eration1 beca0se each
-ethod o/ en0-eration or presentation in diagra--atic or paradig-atic /or- -erely sho.s
another vista o/ the tr0th1 sho.s another /acet or .ay o/ loo2ing at the one >e.el# So a -an1 i/
he .ere in $ndia1 .ho desired to st0dy that .onder/0l -on0-ent o/ bea0ty1 the Ta> 7ahal1
.o0ld not -erely loo2 at it /ro- the /ront and then go a.ay1 b0t .o0ld go inside and st0dy it
in detail; and go to the bac2 o/ it1 and to the right and to the le/t1 th0s seeing all sides o/ it1
-ean.hile gathering all in/or-ation possible /ro- a0thorities# $n -0ch the sa-e .ay the
seven principles1 or the ten1 are s0b>ect to di//erent -ethods o/ presentation# ,s a -atter o/
/act1 at-an is p0t as the seventh principle1 beca0se it is the per-anent root o/ o0r being; b0t
i/ .e 2ne. the 2a-a principle .ere that root1 then it sho0ld be called the seventh1 or rather
the /irst or highest1 as being the root o/ o0r being; or the -anas1 0nder si-ilar conditions1
sho0ld be called the seventh# The at-an is p0t as the /irst or highest beca0se the seven
principles o/ -an are considered in a generaliDing .ay1 and the at-an or sel/ being the root
or the highest ele-ent o/ being is considered as one o/ the seven principles1 tho0gh in reality
it is a uni4er!al principle#
40r /o0rth I0estion sho.s ho. deeply o0r I0estioner has tho0ght5
The doctrine o/ cycles1 and the e3act n0-ber o/ years the h0-an race .ill ta2e in one
-anvantara or a =ay and &ight o/ %rah-a to reach the 7th race and 7th ro0nd1 ta2en in
con>0nction .ith the doctrine o/ /ree .ill1 al.ays so-e.hat p0DDles -e# :hy does not
-an8s /ree .ill and /ail0res contin0ally 2eep 0psetting the e3act n0-ber o/ years it ta2es
hi- to reach to certain /0t0re ro0nds and races; $n Theo!o%h&5 The $ath o" the
M&!tic/ <atherine Tingley says that h0-anity has passed the .orst point1 the cr0cial point1
in its evol0tion1 and that no po.ers in heaven and hell can stay its progress1 b0t yet she
2eeps on tal2ing to h0-anity as i/ it .ere on the brin2 o/ destr0ction#
$n the /irst place1 in the large s.eep o/ things1 ta2ing the seven ro0nds as a 2alpa or as a
.hole1 and even -ore strongly so as regards the solar 2alpa1 that is1 the cycle o/ the solar
syste-1 the e3act n0-ber o/ years o/ even a h0-an8s -any incarnations is de/inite and set1
in -0ch the sa-e .ay as the n0-ber o/ t0rns !or days and nights" .hich o0r globe1 the
earth1 -a2es in one year1 or one revol0tion aro0nd the s0n# $n other .ords1 the n0-ber o/
days is set and deter-ined in a year1 or the n0-ber o/ days in a l0nar cycle or -onth# %0t
.hile that is so in the general s.eep o/ things1 the doctrine o/ /ree .ill .hich -an has is a
very real tr0th1 and -an8s /ail0res or s0ccesses do .or2 to retard or to hasten the n0-ber o/
a h0-an being8s incarnations1 /or instance ? .hich brie/ly covers the I0estion o0r I0estioner
has as2ed#
The total n0-ber is set; b0t >0st as the bodies o/ the solar syste-1 the planets1 as is 2no.n to
astrono-ers1 so-eti-es d0e to their pert0rbations are occasionally a little behind or a little
ahead in ti-e1 nevertheless in the long r0n they @arrive on ti-e1@ as i/ they .ere endo.ed
.ith conscio0sness1 and had to arrive at the goal at the ti-e .hen the ho0r is set there/or# So
-an8s /ree .ill can alter the co0rse or ti-e periods o/ his incarnations1 b0t not their n0-ber#
$n any ro0nd1 in any root'race1 he can change the- in that respect1 b0t he .ill have to pay /or
it by 2ar-ic retrib0tion1 /or a reaction sets in; and there .ill be an adverse c0rrent r0nning the
other .ay# Shall .e say1 /inally1 that -an has no /ree .ill beca0se he is bo0nd to a globe
.hich he cannot vol0ntarily leave; 4/ co0rse not1 altho0gh he is1 nolen! 4olen!/ carried
aro0nd the s0n by o0r globe8s ann0al co0rse# There is -0ch -ore that -ight be said to clari/y
this point1 b0t it is too strictly esoteric to spea2 o/ here#
,s regards <atherine Tingley8s .ords1 per-it -e to point o0t that o0r I0estioner has I0oted
her e3actly1 as /ar as the sense goes# $t is a /act that .e have passed the .orst point1 the
cr0cial point1 in o0r evol0tion# $t .as the -iddle o/ the /o0rth race o/ this /o0rth ro0nd# Things
co0ld not have been .orse /ro- the spirit0al vie.point in o0r entire -anvantara# $t .as the
-id-ost or lo.est point o/ several cycles# :e1 as a racial body1 passed thro0gh it
s0ccess/0lly1 b0t -any1 -any entities /ell and too2 the do.n.ard path# @%0t yet she 2eeps on
tal2ing to h0-anity as i/ .e .ere on the brin2 o/ destr0ction@ ? do not yo0 2no. that even in
this /i/th root'race .e have not yet reached the -iddle point o/ the /o0rth pri-ary s0brace
thereo/ ? its -iddle and there/ore dangero0s point; ,nd that the great racial catastrophe d0e
/or o0r /i/th root'race has there/ore not yet co-e 0pon 0s; ,s A# # %lavats2y pointed o0t in
1++7 or 1+++1 the great tidal .aves and earthI0a2es occ0rring in the last /e. tho0sand years
see- to be pre-onitions o/ .hat a /e. -ore tho0sands o/ years .ill bring 0pon 0s .ith
a0g-ented /orce#
The last I0estion is5
The na-es given to the ,bsol0te in its di//erent -ani/estations are con/0sing to -e !or
perhaps >0st hard to re-e-ber"# $n atan>ali8sFoga )%hori!! -an8s higher sel/ is called
$s.ara1 in the9haga4ad1'ita/ 0r0sha; again it is o/ten called at-an# $n 6hapter viii o/
the 9haga4ad1'ita the na-es adhyat-an1 adhibh0ta1 adhidaivata1 adhiya>nia1 brah-an1
and so /orth1 are all 0sed .ith very s0btle di//erences o/ -eanings#
They are; b0t the -eanings are also e3plained in the /irst part o/9haga4ad1'ita/ chapter +#
:e -ay here point o0t that even as in the arrange-ents o/ the seven principles in the
vario0s boo2s1 these na-es are atte-pts to sho. other or di//erent vie.s o/ the one thing#
$n concl0sion1 .e .ill translate these /ive Sans2rit na-es5 adh&atan-eans the @original
at-an or sel/1@ eI0ivalent to ara-at-an1 or s0pre-e at-an1 the highest o/ the
hierarchy# )dhi6huta -eans that s0pre-e thing1 or the higher egoic principle or @original
ele-ent1@ in 0s co-ing over /ro- other -anvantaras; it is1 so to say1 the incarnating essence
o/ the ele-ent#)dhidai4ata -eans @-ore divine1@ the highest part o/ all /ro- the serial
standpoint1 the hierarchical standpoint1 considering vario0s stages#)dhi&aAna -eans the
greater1 the @s0perior sacri/ice#@
<rishna in the high spirit0al sense .as the greater sacri/ice1 the pri-al sacri/ice1 the /irst
initiator on the part o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 a sacri/ice thro0gh p0re love and
co-passion1 than .hich1 in -en1 there is nothing -ore s0bli-e1 beca0se it -a2es 0s as one
o/ the gods# 9rahan1 the last .ord1 is1 as .e all 2no.1 a Sans2rit .ord o/ .hich the
essential root -eans @e3pansion@; it is that part o/ the celestial econo-y .hich /irst initiates
-ani/estation1 the e3pansion o/ the 4ne into the -any#
hapter Twenty-Three
The S0n and the lanets# Their Role in the Evol0tionary =ra-a#
The -ost -ystic o/ disco0rses in/or- 0s1 that the .holeness o/ hi- !the s0n" is in the
s0per-0ndane orders5 /or there a solar .orld and a total light s0bsist1 as the oracles o/
the 6haldaeans a//ir-# # # #
Un.earied nat0re r0les over the .orlds and .or2s1
That heaven dra.ing do.n.ard -ight r0n an eternal co0rse1
,nd that the other periods o/ the s0n1 -oon1 seasons1 night1 and day1 -ight be
acco-plished# ? rocl0s1 *oentar& on the >Tiaeu!> o" $lato !6ory1 )ncient
Fragent!/ pp# 27*'("
TAE SE6RET =46TR$&E1 vol0-e $1 pages 279 and 2+)5
:hatever -ay be the destiny o/ these act0al .ritings in a re-ote /0t0re1 .e hope to have
proven so /ar the /ollo.ing /acts5
!1" The Secret =octrine teaches no )thei!/ e3cept in the Aind0 sense o/ the
.ord na!ti2a/ or the re>ection o/ idol!/ incl0ding every anthropo-orphic god# $n this sense
every 4cc0ltist is a ,a!ti2a+
!2" $t ad-its a 9ogos or a collective @6reator@ o/ the Universe; aDei1urgo! ? in the sense
i-plied .hen one spea2s o/ an @,rchitect@ as the @6reator@ o/ an edi/ice1 .hereas that
,rchitect has never to0ched one stone o/ it1 b0t1 .hile /0rnishing the plan1 le/t all the
-an0al labor to the -asons; in o0r case the plan .as /0rnished by the $deation o/ the
Universe1 and the constr0ctive labo0r .as le/t to the Aosts o/ intelligent o.ers and
Forces# %0t that Deiurgo! is no %er!onal deity1 ? i+e+/ an i-per/ect e@tra1co!ic1 god/ ?
b0t only the aggregate o/ the =hyan'6hohans and the other /orces#
,s to the latter ?
!3" They are d0al in their character; being co-posed o/ !a" the irrational 6rute
energ&/ inherent in -atter1 and !6" the intelligent so0l or cos-ic conscio0sness .hich
directs and g0ides that energy1 and .hich is the Dh&an1*hohanic thought re"lecting the
0deation o" the 3ni4er!al ind# This res0lts in a perpet0al series o/ physical
-ani/estations and oral e""ect! on Earth1 d0ring -anvantaric periods1 the .hole being
s0bservient to <ar-a# ,s that process is not al.ays per/ect; and since1 ho.ever -any
proo/s it -ay e3hibit o/ a g0iding intelligence behind the veil1 it still sho.s gaps and /la.s1
and even res0lts very o/ten in evident /ail0res ? there/ore1 neither the collective Aost
!=e-i0rgos"1 nor any o/ the .or2ing po.ers individ0ally1 are proper s0b>ects /or divine
hono0rs or .orship# ,ll are entitled to the grate/0l reverence o/ A0-anity1 ho.ever1 and
-an o0ght to be ever striving to help the divine evol0tion o/ 0dea!/ by beco-ing to the
best o/ his ability a co1wor2er with nature in the cyclic tas2# The ever 0n2no.able and
incogniDable Karana alone1 the *au!ele!! 6a0se o/ all ca0ses1 sho0ld have its shrine
and altar on the holy and ever 0ntrodden gro0nd o/ o0r heart ? invisible1 intangible1
0n-entioned1 save thro0gh @the still s-all voice@ o/ o0r spirit0al conscio0sness# Those
.ho .orship be/ore it1 o0ght to do so in the silence and the sancti/ied solit0de o/ their
So0ls; -a2ing their spirit the sole -ediator bet.een the- and the 3ni4er!al S%irit/ their
good actions the only priests1 and their sin/0l intentions the only visible and ob>ective
sacri/icial victi-s to the $re!ence+
:e proceed to gather 0p this evening -ore o/ the scattered threads le/t over /ro- o0r /or-er
st0dies# First1 let 0s loo2 a little -ore closely into .hat is -eant by a bodhisattva# $t .ill be
re-e-bered that a bodhisattva .as spo2en o/ as the personal -an relatively per/ected; the
case .here the personal entity had beco-e an i-personal entity1 .here -ortality had p0t
0pon itsel/ the vest0re o/ i--ortality; in other .ords1 a case .here the personal -an has
beco-e an ,.a2ened 4ne or a %0ddha short o/ %0ddhahood co-plete by only one stage;
or1 to 0se the 6hristian !early 6hristian'Bree2" -ystical e3pression1 a 6hrist on earth#
&o. a bodhisattva1 being s0ch1 practically -eans .hat .e -ight call the higher -anas1 the
higher sel/ !not the highest sel/1 b0t the higher sel/" /0lly developed and in the /0ll radiance o/
the d0al -onad at-a'b0ddhi1 and th0s /or-s a /it vehicle1 a /it -edi0-1 bet.een the divine
and the lo.er selves o/ -an; and th0s provides an appropriate channel o/ co--0nication in
cases .here an avatara is d0e /or -ani/estation on earth# There co0ld be no s0ch thing as
an avatara a-ong -en .ere it not /or this -edi0- s0pplying the necessary psychospirit0al
lin2# 0re spirit1 in endeavoring to act 0pon earth1 can have neither e//ect 0pon1 nor chance o/
co--0nication .ith1 -en1 beca0se it is the act0al divine essence1 so to say1 o/ the 2os-os
and needs the t.o spirit0al I0alities or vehicles b0ddhi and -anas'tai>asa in order so to
-ani/est1 and the bodhisattva1 in s0pplying the spirit0al egoic I0ality1 the inter-ediate I0ality1
/0rnishes that necessary -edi0- or vehicle# The bodhisattva1 /0rther-ore1 .ho1 instead o/
p0rs0ing its o.n nat0ral 2ar-ic higher co0rse in the nirvanic state1 chooses by virt0e o/ the
co-passion inherent in itsel/ to re-ain on earth1 as a helper o/ -an2ind1 in that case
beco-es a nir-ana2aya1 a /0lly conscio0s thin2ing entity 0pon this o0r h0-an plane1 -in0s
only the physical body# $t is stated in the esoteric philosophy that Ba0ta-a the %0ddha -ade
that s0bli-e choice1 and /0rnished the inter-ediate principle /or the Aind0 avatara1
San2aracharya1 o/ .ho- .e spo2e at o0r last -eeting# There is a tradition and a record
a-ong 0s li2e.ise that the sa-e bodhisattva /0rnished the inter-ediate principle o/ the
avataric -ani/estation called Ees0s1 as also in t.o other cases .hich .e here leave
0nna-ed1 the reason being that each race and each s0brace1 as .ell as every s-aller racial
cycle o/ i-portance1 as .e 2no.1 is 0nder the partic0lar g0idance o/ a b0ddha1 or o/ -inor
incarnations or overshado.ings by hi-#
Ba0ta-a the %0ddha .as hi-sel/ an avatara %lu!1 i#e#1 in a larger sense; that is to say1
instead o/ /0rnishing an inter-ediate vehicle /ro- hi-sel/1 in a -inor cycle1 he .as that
inter-ediate vehicle hi-sel/ in his psychospirit0al totality1 inspired by his o.n divine nat0re1
and .ith his o.n physical body as the @te-ple@ thereo/1 di//ering in that respect /ro- an
avatara per se1 in .hich the inter-ediate vehicle is /0rnished by the bodhisattva'nir-ana2aya
o/ the b0ddha 0nder .hose governance1 or rather overseeing1 the partic0lar race in .hich the
avatara appears r0ns its co0rse as a -inor cycle o/ the greater racial cycle o/ that b0ddha
hi-sel/# ,n avatara1 there/ore1 reI0ires the bodhisattva o/ the racial b0ddha as a vehicle in
order to -ani/est 0pon earth at the ti-e he is d0e to appear# , b0ddha does not1 beca0se1
altho0gh an avatara in the sense o/ being 0nder the direct and /0lly act0al ill0-ination o/ his
o.n divine sel/ !.hich is a s0perterrestrial bodhisattva1 st0died at o0r last -eeting"1 he ha!
2ara 6ehind hi# $t is the direct and act0al reincarnation o/ a divine -an1 .hich an avatara
is not# ,n avatara is1 in a sense1 an ill0sion or -aya1 beca0se the inter-ediate or egoic
I0ality ? the o//spring -etaphysically o/ 2ar-a ? is lac2ing there and has to be /0rnished by
the bodhisattva'I0ality or vehicle#
,n avatara1 /or-ally only1 stands higher than a bodhisattva1 b0t it is a higher stage -erely o/
/or- o/ and in a hierarchy1 and not /ro- the evol0tionary vie.point# , b0ddha beco-es s0ch
by !el"1directed e4olution/ the great tr0th that <atherine Tingley so o/ten tells 0s o/# ,n
avatara co-es by 2ar-ic racial necessity at certain epochs in the .orld8s history; a b0ddha
does so li2e.ise1 b0t also by %er!onal choice o0t o/ an i--ense co-passion /or his in/erior
/ello. beings still involved in the toils o/ -aterial e3istence# There is the di//erence1 and a
very i-portant one it is to re-e-ber /or o0r /0t0re st0dies#
:e -ight say in passing that at abo0t o0r present period1 .hat is called a 7essianic cycle is
ending and1 nat0rally1 a ne. one is opening ? a 7essianic cycle r0nning 211C) years1 in
de/inite1 e3act /ig0res# These cycles s0cceed one another contin0o0sly# So i/ .e choose to
co0nt bac2.ards1 .e can say1 i/ .e li2e1 that the E0ropean 7essianic cycle .hich is ending1
or o0t o/ .hich .e are e-erging1 is that ina0g0rated /or E0rope by Ees0s1 the ,vatara#
$nteresting tho0ghts co-e 0p in this connection .hich .e -ay sa/ely leave /or consideration
at another ti-e#
So -0ch /or those threads#
lease re-e-ber that evol0tion co-prises t.o lines o/ action1 as it .ere1 t.o /orces r0nning
collaterally1 that is to say1 the spirit or the developed side o/ e3istence on the one hand1 and
that o/ the 0ndeveloped side on the other hand5 other.ise1 dar2ness and light1 or the sel/ish
and the co-passionate1 .hich1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber1 is a s0b>ect that .e all0ded to so-e.hat
in st0dying the /i/th o/ the seven treas0ries o/ .isdo- o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion .hich
is the 0nsel/ish or i--ortal side o/ e3istence#
&o. the action and interaction o/ these t.o lines o/ energy s0pply the -otive /orces behind
evol0tion1 behind progress; and the co0rse .hich evol0tion ta2es really arises in1 springs o0t
/ro-1 and is ina0g0rated by1 the i-p0lses at the opening o/ the -anvantaric cycle given to
the dar2 or -atter'side o/ e3istence by the dhyani'chohans1 $ -ean by the higher parts or
entities o/ this Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# $t is the 2e&note! /0rnished by the-1 the %rial and
original i%ul!e! depending o/ co0rse 0pon destiny !or 2ar-a" .hich give the originating plan
and the driving po.er behind everything that happens in that -anvantara thro0gho0t its cycle
o/ evol0tion 0ntil its close; and .hile /ree .ill e3ists in -an as soon as he has learned to obey
the spirit0al stat0tes o/ sel/'conscio0sness1 this /ree .ill itsel/1 being a divine energy and in a
sense springing itsel/ /ro- the general dhyan'chohanic i-p0lse1 can in no circ0-stances
-ilitate against1 be contrary to1 or adversely a//ect1 the general evol0tionary c0rrent .hich
bears the -ani/old hosts o/ entities in -ani/estation al.ays to.ards the 0lti-ate goal1
signaliDed by A# # %lavats2y in the ancient saying1 @The =ay %e :ith Us@ ? the end o/ a
-anvantara or the opening o/ pralaya#
Th0s1 then1 these t.o lines o/ energy are eternally coactive ? 0sing the .ord eternally in the
sense o/ lasting thro0gho0t the solar 2alpa ? on one side1 the @dar21@ 0ndeveloped /orces o/
-atter; and1 on the other side1 the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion .ith its inn0-erable 0nits 0rging
the hosts o/ evolving beings /or.ard in one direction1 the .hole e//ort o/ the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion being to raise other less developed beings or 0nits /ro- the -atter'side 0p into
the @light'side#@ The entities o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion in past -anvantaras .ere
the-selves th0s so raised by other Aierarchies o/ 6o-passion1 no. by this ti-e /ar1 /ar
ahead o/ 0s in evol0tion; and it is o0r s0bli-e destiny in the /0t0re 2alpa o0rselves so to
g0ide the entities behind 0s no.1 a process called the @assing on o/ the 9ight1@ as the Bree2
and 9atin poets p0t it#
F0rther-ore1 as brie/ly all0ded to at o0r last st0dy1 please re-e-ber that the ancient
initiations1 and the 7ystery Schools in .hich those initiations too2 place1 .ere established
solely /or the p0rpose o/ @/orcing@ or I0ic2ening the evol0tion o/ /it and proper candidates#
They .ere established /ro- the sa-e -otives o/ co-passion that presided over the acts o/
the great actors o/ the pri-al dra-a1 the opening acts o/ o0r -anvantara# They copied1 as it
.ere in -iniat0re1 .hat too2 place in those pri-ordial ti-es1 and .hat too2 place in act0al li/e
in the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion on o0r earth1 or that section1 rather1 o/ the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion .hich .e call the Breat :hite 9odge#
9et 0s t0rn a -o-ent to another collateral and very i-portant -atter 0pon .hich .e have
to0ched b0t lightly1 beca0se the I0estions involved are so pro/o0nd that it .as i-possible in
treating o/ one s0b>ect adeI0ately to -a2e the -eaning clear .itho0t te-porarily dropping
o0r -ain the-e# %0t it is li2e.ise necessary not to go too /ar ahead and leave these loose
threads behind; .e -0st gather the- in also and .eave the- into the /abric1 into the pict0re1
.hich .e are endeavoring to -a2e#
:e re/er -ore partic0larly to the role .hich the s0n and the planets o/ o0r solar syste- play
in the evol0tionary dra-a# There are great -ysteries connected .ith this1 and .e are told
very plainly that not -erely the 0lti-ate .ord b0t even speci/ying e3planations in no
circ0-stances are given o0t e3cept to those .ho have pledged the-selves irretrievably and
irrevocably to the 9odge# ,nd even then they are given o0t only .ith @-o0th to ear1@ and @at
lo. breath@; and1 /0rther-ore1 only to those1 says A# # %lavats2y1 .ho have passed
s0ccess/0lly their /o0rth initiation1 .hich consists very largely in the %er!onal and
indi4idual e@%eriencing o" the teaching! gi4en in the three %receding !tage! ? three stages o/
preli-inary teaching and training1 leading to act0al personal e3perience thereo/ in the /o0rth
initiation1 in .hich1 .e are told1 the candidate -0st leave the body o/ /lesh1 yea1 even the
brain'-ind1 behind1 and 6ecoethat o/ .hich he .as ta0ght1 beca0se only by 6eing can
he 2now# &evertheless a great deal has been openly said that is1 to the st0dent1 very
ill0-inating as regards these s0b>ects#
First1 at vario0s ti-es .e have spo2en o/ the s0n1 o/ o0r solar orb1 as the central loc0s o/ o0r
solar syste-# So it is1 not -erely physically b0t also in other .ays# The s0n1 parado3ically b0t
tr0ly1 s0pplies -ost o/ o0r -aterial1 vital po.ers; and it is interesting to note that the nearer
the planets are to the s0n1 as a general r0le1 the -ore dense they are# 7ar2 .ell that
7erc0ry1 the planet o/ bodha or o/ .isdo-1 the partic0lar g0ardian and initiator in the
7ysteries1 is the nearest to the s0n !b0t one" o/ our seven planets1 i#e#1 the seven 7ystery'
planets# &ote the .ords @b0t one#@ No0 .ill re-e-ber that the ancients spo2e o/ seven
7ystery'planets5 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars ? $ give the- in the old order ? S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1
and 7oon# This -atter .e shall develop so-e.hat in diagra--atic /or- later this evening i/
.e have the ti-e#
The intra'7erc0rial planet1 as it is called1 according to o0r teaching beca-e practically
invisible to the physical eye d0ring the third root'race1 a/ter the /all o/ -an into physical
generation# 4n 7arch 2C1 1+(91 a body .as seen crossing the solar dis21 -a2ing .hat
astrono-ers call a transit# That body has not been seen again; b0t there are other reasons
.hich have ind0ced so-e astrono-ers to believe that there act0ally is an intra'7erc0rial
planet !altho0gh they cannot /ind it again despite the search /or it"1 s0ch as the pert0rbations
o/ 7erc0ry# ,n atte-pt at e3planation o/ these pert0rbations has been recently -ade1 based
on the relativity doctrines o/ Einstein1 and that e3planation is no. in /ashion# &evertheless1
o0r Teachers say that there is an intra'7erc0rial planet; .e -ay call it F0lcan1 as the
astrono-ers so called it#
Even i/ F0lcan beca-e invisible d0ring the third root'race1 it co0ld yet beco-e visible in
transit1 that is1 in crossing the s0n8s dis21 as this body .as act0ally in 1+(9 seen to do1
beca0se altho0gh invisible to o0r 0naided sight1 yet thro0gh the lens o/ a telescope .hen
t0rned 0pon the 0ns0rpassed ill0-ination o/ the s0n8s dis21 its body co0ld probably be seen
against the great brilliance o/ the solar orb# The i--ensely great ill0-ination provided by the
s0n .o0ld readily thro. into shado.1 or -a2e appear as a shado.1 any body o/ less
brilliance1 or any body nor-ally too ethereal to be seen other.ise#
The seventh planet1 o0r teaching is1 is a planet .hich 0nder proper conditions is so-eti-es
seen apparently near the -oon# $t is said that it has a retrograde -otion1 and that it is slo.ly
dying# $t has reached the end o/ its cycle# $ thin2 it erroneo0s to say that the -oon @hides@ it#
That -ay be a good .ay1 perhaps1 o/ e3pressing a certain appearance1 b0t $ thin2 it is a
-isleading one# 9et 0s 2eep the /acts >0st as they .ere given 0s1 that it is so-eti-es @seen
apparently near the -oon1@ that it has a retrograde -otion1 and that it is slo.ly dying#
F0lcan is in one -ystic sense the highest o/ the seven sacred planets; perhaps not the least
dense1 b0t in one sense the highest psychologically; and .e have reason to believe that the
other planet so-eti-es seen apparently near the -oon is perhaps the lo.est o/ the seven
sacred planets# This does not -ean that o0r teaching li-its the n0-ber o/ the planets o/ the
solar syste- to seven# 4n the contrary1 .e are ta0ght that there are -any -ore planets in
the solar syste- than are 2no.n to astrono-ers1 so-e per/ectly invisible1 beca0se they are
on planes both higher and lo.er than o0r plane# There are planets in o0r syste- higher than
o0rs1 higher than any planet visible to 0s; there are also planets in o0r syste- -0ch lo.er
than o0rs1 -0ch lo.er than any planet visible to 0s#
These seven especial planets .ere called sacred /or a reason -ost di//ic0lt openly to e3plain;
b0t .e -ay say this1 that the seven planets .hich .e on earth !please note the I0ali/ication"
call sacred1 are those planets !and the earth is not one o/ the-" .hich are the u%adhi! ? a
Sans2rit .ord -eaning @bearers@ or @carriers@ ? !to 0s" o/ the seven solar /orces# They are all
@higher@ in that sense1 or /ro- that point o/ vie.1 than is the earth; and they are all inti-ately
connected .ith this earth1 and provide this earth1 not .ith its principles1 b0t .ith spirit0al and
intellect0al and psychical and astral and vital po.ers1 so to say# These seven sacred planets1
-oreover1 are o0r @-a2ers1@ and oversee o0r destiny#
This is a bit o/ the gen0ine ancient astrology# $t is not -erely to the physical body o/ the
seven planets that .e all0de; do0btless each physical planet or rather globe has its
o.n a!tronoical /orces1 s0ch as gravitation and -agnetis-1 and so /orth; b0t .e are here
spea2ing o/ the inner or occ0lt action o/ the-# Each o/ the globes o/ o0r planetary chain1
-oreover1 each o/ the seven globes thereo/1 is 0nder the partic0lar .atch/0lness or care o/
one o/ these seven 7ystery'planets# F0rther-ore1 each ro0nd is 0nder the partic0lar
overseeing o/ one o/ these seven sacred planets# F0rther-ore1 each race on any one o/ the
globes is 0nder the partic0lar care and overseeing o/ one o/ these seven sacred planets# For
these reasons1 as .ell as /or others still -ore i-portant and inti-ate on acco0nt o/ their strait
connection .ith o0r planetary chain1 .ere they called the seven sacred planets#
The s0n and -oon are not t.o o/ the seven1 altho0gh /or p0rposes o/ esoteric astrology they
.ere s0bstit0ted /or the real t.o1 beca0se one is apparently near the -oon1 and one is so
near the s0n# Net1 /or all that1 the s0n and -oon are both closely in interaction respectively
.ith those t.o#
:ith regard to the s0n5 :hat is the s0n; $s the s0n a physical body only; $t is not# $t is not
really a physical body1 /or it is not gas1 it is not gaseo0s# $t is not solid1 nor is it liI0id or
gaseo0s# The !un i! a re"lection+ :hat do .e -ean .hen .e say a re/lection; :e do not
-ean the .ord in the /0ll1 co-plete1 and e3cl0sive sense in .hich it is co--only e-ployed1
as .hen .e spea2 o/ the re/lection o/ an i-age in a -irror# :e -ean it in this sense1 that
the true s0n is a body ? strange as it -ay see- to o0r present'day scientists ? o/ energy or
/orce# 7odern science is beginning to 0nderstand no. that /orce and -atter are
/0nda-entally one thing# So-e years ago everything in the scienti/ic i-agination
.as atter+ &o. everything has beco-e "orce to it# 7arvelo0s1 that these scienti/ic
gentle-en do not see ho. easily they change the bases o/ their tho0ght1 and ho. dog-atic
they so o/ten are as regards each ne. series o/ bases that they ass0-eK %0t there the /act
is# Science today tells 0s that -atter is si-ply /orce1 .hich is tr0e# %0t it is -atter all the
sa-e# There is no need o/ r0nning to one e3tre-e in trying to p0ll o0rselves o0t o/ another#
&o need o/ inc0rring the perils o/ Scylla in trying to evade those o/ 6harybdis# 7atter e3ists1 it
is; it is the 0padhi or carrier o/ /orce1 and /orce is also the intrinsic li/e o/ -atter# &evertheless
-atter e3ists; it is a -aya1 an ill0sion indeed1 b0t it e@i!t!+ 7aya does not -ean ill0sion in the
e3cl0sive and /0ll sense o/ nonentity# &ot at all# 7aya act0ally i-plies that so-ething e3ists
to prod0ce it1 b0t that the seer o/ it does not 2no. .hat the reality is behind; in other
.ords1 our !en!e! do not tell u! the truth a6out the thing 6ehind the ani"e!tation+ That is
.hat -aya -eans1 not that the thing itsel/ is nonentity# That vie. is an abs0rdity#
$/ yo0 e3a-ine photographs o/ s0nspots1 i/ yo0 loo2 at the s0n thro0gh a good telescope and
center yo0r gaDe 0pon a s0nspot .hen it is near a li-b o/ the s0n1 near an edge1 yo0 .ill see
that as the spot crosses the solar dis21 it see-s to be blac2# &o. .hy does it appear blac2;
:e 2no. that it is not blac2 in color# 40r scientists have proved that /act1 b0t the visible dis2
o/ the s0n is so intensely brilliant that the less brilliance o/ the part .ithin the spot1 tho0gh
very brilliant itsel/1 see-s dar2 to o0r eyes#
S0ppose that .e .ere to say that the s0n .e see is si-ply li2e the glo. aro0nd so-e
electrical -achines1 -erely a @re/lection@ o/ the electrical c0rrent1 as it .ere1 a -ayavi
-ani/estation on o0r plane o/ a /orce so i--ense that .e can /or- no proper conception o/
it# S0ppose that .e .ere to thin2 o/ the s0n as occ0pying no space !or di-ension" at all1 and
that .hat .e see1 that i--ense apparent body o/ light1 .ere li2e an electrical spar21
apparently a body1 apparently occ0pying space# S0ppose that .e go a step /0rther and say
that the visible s0n .hich .e see is -atter in its si3th state o/ ethereality1 and that .hat is
behind that tre-endo0sly brilliant veil or re/lection is an ato-1 so to say1 an in/initesi-al part
o/ -atter's0bstance1 -atter in its seventh state# $t is easy to /ollo. this tho0ght# The s0n is a
-ass o/ /orce; as even the -edieval philosophers -ight have said5 @%rother1 .hen a -an
tells yo0 that he has seen the s0n1 la0gh at hi-# Ae has not# The s0n is invisible# The tr0e
s0n1 the origin and center o/ these high /orces1 is on higher planes1 and .e -erely see on the
si3th s0bplane o/ o0r 2os-ic plane this intense brilliance covering so vast a space as the
apparent s0n does#@
F0rther-ore1 .hile the s0n gives 0s o0r light on earth1 it probably does not /0rnish 0s .ith 3)
percent o/ the heat that .e have1 and then not by direct physical radiation1 b0t in so-e.hat
the sa-e .ay in .hich the electric c0rrent /0rnishes 0s .ith heat1 or in a si-ilar .ay ? in
the !ae .ay .o0ld be1 perhaps1 too strong a -anner o/ p0tting the /act# Forces e-anate
/ro- the solar heart or center and reach the -eteoric veils encircling the earth1 and aro0se
electro-agnetic c0rrents1 prod0cing th0s a part o/ the -eteorological pheno-ena .hich .e
e3perience in stor-s and /air .eather and rain and sno. and ice# The earth itsel/ prod0ces
probably 7) percent or -ore o/ the heat .hich .e 2no.; and s0ch things as stor-s are
ca0sed -ostly by electro-agnetic action and reaction1 i/ $ -ay 0se that e3pression1 bet.een
the innate prana1 or vital /orces o/ the earth1 and the -eteoric continent .hich s0rro0nds o0r
globe li2e a veil# For .e are encircled d0ring o0r -anvantara1 and every other planet o/ the
solar syste- is si-ilarly encircled d0ring it! -anvantara1 .ith a thic2 veil o/ -eteoric d0st1
-ost o/ it very /ine1 so-e o/ it o/ -ore or less large bodies#
Ta2e Fen0s1 /or instance1 or 7erc0ry# They are s0rro0nded each one .ith its o.n veil o/
-eteoric or 2os-ic d0st5 each one veils her /ace1 or his /ace# This -eteoric veil acts in one
sense as does a c0shion1 th0s /or-ing a protection to its planet# :e do not see /or that
reason the real /ace o/ the planet# %0t 7ars has no s0ch veil# :hy; %eca0se the vital
essence o/ that planetary chain has le/t 7ars8 physical globe /or its other globes#
:e shall have to reserve 0ntil ne3t .ee2 the diagra- .hich .as to have been sho.n to yo0
this evening1 at .hich point o/ st0dy .e have no. arrived# 9et 0s brie/ly point o0t that the
diagra- in I0estion is ta2en /ro- the -ystical Syrian tho0ght in vog0e be/ore the 6hristian
era1 and represents the e3oteric astrological ideas that the Syrians then had o/ the
relationship o/ the planes o/ being1 and necessarily there/ore o/ the planets and the -ystical
positions occ0pied by each o/ the- in the evol0tionary dra-a# They p0t it this .ise# First and
highest .as the 7il2y :ay1 .hich to the- .as the 0t-ost li-it o/ this hierarchy or 0niverse#
Then ca-e the &eb0lae and 6o-ets1 .hich .ere represented in the spirit0al hierarchy by
the Seraphi-# The third grade still lo.er .ere the Fi3ed Stars1 and they .ere represented by
the 6her0bi-# Then ta2ing a leap over the i--ensities o/ the space o/ o0r 0niverse1 these
old thin2ers o/ %abylonia1 ,ssyria1 7edia1 and do0btless ersia1 and o/ co0rse hoenicia1
and all the other co0ntries o/ ,sia 7inor1 began the in/erior series .ith the planets o/ o0r
solar syste-# First1 Sat0rn1 the seat o/ the Thrones; then E0piter1 the seat o/ the =o-inations;
then 7ars1 the seat o/ the Firt0es; then the S0n1 the seat o/ the o.ers; then Fen0s1 the seat
o/ the rincipalities; then 7erc0ry1 o/ the ,rchangels; then the 7oon1 o/ the ,ngels; then o0r
Earth# They also en0-erated /ive ele-ents ? an en0-eration .hich is e3oteric1 b0t it is the
sa-e as the esoteric as /ar as it goes# 40r Earth1 as .ell as interplanetary space1 co-prises
these /ive ele-ents1 and .hen .e say o0r Earth .e -ean not -erely o0r physical planetary
body o/ this ele-ent 0pon .hich .e -ove1 b0t the entire sphere co-prehended bet.een the
7oon and the Earth# These /ive ele-ents .ere na-ed Ether1 Fire1 ,ir1 :ater1 gross -atter or
Earth# 40tside o/ this hierarchy or 0niverse or 2os-os they placed the 6elestial :aters1 even
as the /irst chapter o/ the Aebre. boo2 o/ Benesis spea2s o/ the @spirit o/ the Elohi- -oving
over the .aters#@ @6elestial :aters@ .as a na-e /reI0ently given by the ancients to .hat the
Bree2s called 6haos1 0ndeveloped -atter or1 as .e today .o0ld say1 spacial deeps#
40r ti-e o/ st0dy this evening is dra.ing to a close# 9et 0s1 ho.ever1 point o0t the interesting
/act that this sa-e series o/ the planets sho.s 0s clearly that the ancients -0st have
0nderstood per/ectly .ell the -echanis- o/ the /ra-e.or2 o/ the visible solar syste-1 and
that1 i/ their tho0ght .as geocentric1 -a2ing the earth the center o/ the 2os-os1 it .as a
nat0ral tho0ght; and that as -an is instinctively anthropocentric1 he cannot nat0rally thin2
/ro- another standpoint# So1 nat0rally1 the ancient astrologers and astrono-ers1 .ith their
/eet on earth1 calc0lated /ro- the earth1 and sa. /ro- the earth1 and placed -an1 loo2ing 0p
to.ards the spheres o/ the solar syste-1 on earth as the center o/ observation even as .e do
today1 not -eaning at all that they 2ne. nothing o/ the heliocentric syste-1 .hich .e 2no.
they did 2no.#
:hat can this -ean; This cannot -ean anything b0t one thing1 and that is1 that these
planets .ere so placed on acco0nt o/ and beca0se o/ the relative ti-e occ0pied by each in
-a2ing the circ0it o/ its orbitW to .it5 Sat0rn1 abo0t thirty years; E0piter1 the ne3t @lo.est1@
practically t.elve; 7ars1 the ne3t lo.est1 practically t.o; the S0n !or the 7ystery'planet1 the
S0n s0pplying its place"1 one year; Fen0s1 the ne3t one1 seven -onths; 7erc0ry1 three
-onths; the 7oon1 one -onth# :e .o0ld li2e to point o0t also that the days o/ o0r o.n
co--on .ee2 are based 0pon this series1 and then .e shall close /or this evening#
:hy1 in p0tting the planets in the order Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 7oon1
did they not -a2e their .ee2 o/ seven days /ollo. that order; %eca0se1 dividing the day and
night into 2* ho0rs1 each day1 beginning at s0nrise1 opens .ith its /irst ho0r 0nder the
governance o/ so-e partic0lar planet# $/ yo0 calc0late thro0gh the 2* ho0rs1 beginning .ith
Sat0rn !there being seven sacred planets"1 d0ring the 2* ho0rs they go into 2* three ti-es1
.ith three over# Three ti-es seven is 21 ho0rs1 .ith three over5 221 231 2*1 the 2(th ho0r
being the /irst ho0r o/ the ne@t da&+Three ti-es seven r0nning thro0gh the 2* ho0rs1 .e /ind
that i/ the /irst ho0r began .ith Sat0rn as presiding planet1 the +th ho0r .o0ld also be 0nder
Sat0rn1 the 1(th .o0ld be 0nder Sat0rn1 the 22nd .o0ld be 0nder Sat0rn1 the 23rd then
.o0ld be 0nder E0piter1 the 2*th 0nder 7ars1 and the 2(th ho0r1 the /irst o/ the ne3t day1
.o0ld be S0n or S0nday# %y ta2ing this list and co0nting each /o0rth1 beginning .ith the one
>0st ended1 as the /irst !or adding three -ore to the ho0r >0st ended"1 gives yo0 the days o/
the .ee2# Th0s5 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 S0n1 SU&=,N; S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 7oon1
74&=,N; 7oon1 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 TUES=,N !7ars8 day"; 7ars1 S0n1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1
:E=&ES=,N1 being the ,nglo'Sa3on 7oden/ corresponding to the 9atin and Bree2 ter-s;
7erc0ry1 7oon1 Sat0rn1 E0piter1 TAURS=,N !Thor8s day"; E0piter1 7ars1 S0n1 Fen0s1
FR$=,N; Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 7oon1 Sat0rn1 S,TUR=,N1 again beginning the second or
/ollo.ing .ee2#
So the order and na-es o/ the days o/ o0r .ee2 are 0lti-ately based 0pon a very interesting
and occ0lt reason ? ancient astrology e3plained and given to the .orld only in the 7ysteries
as .e 2no. the-# The order and na-es o/ the days o/ the .ee2 .ere the sa-e in $ndia and
in &orthern E0rope1 and in so-e parts o/ ,sia1 a -atter .hich has never yet been
satis/actorily e3plained by o0r calendarists and astrono-ers# The reason is /o0nd in the
/0nda-entally identical astrological syste- co--on to the entire ancient .orld#
PART T4O
hapter Twenty-Four
The Ten Stages o/ %eing according to the Syrian Syste-# Esoteric 7ethod o/
Teaching5 arado3es1 $nt0ition#
Their .ritings also Li#e#1 o/ the ythagoreansM1 and all the boo2s .hich they
p0blished1 o!t o" which ha4e 6een %re!er4ed e4en to our tie Li#e#1 to the ti-e o/
$a-blich0sM1 .ere not co-posed by the- in a pop0lar and v0lgar diction1 and in a -anner
0s0al .ith all other .riters1 so as to be i--ediately 0nderstood1 b0t in s0ch a .ay as not
to be easily apprehended by those that read the-# For they adopted that tacit0rnity .hich
.as instit0ted by ythagoras as a la.1 in concealing a/ter an arcane -ode1 divine
-ysteries /ro- the 0ninitiated1 and obsc0ring their .ritings and con/erences .ith each
other# ? $a-blich0s1 <i"e o" $&thagora!/ p# (C
hilosophy1 according to his Llato8sM acceptation1 being not -erely a set o/ doctrines b0t
the per/ecting o/ the .hole spirit0al li/e; # # # ? Ed0ard Heller1 $lato and the -lder
)cade&1 p# 1C)
$t -oves# $t -oves not#
$t is /ar1 and $t is near#
$t is .ithin all this1
,nd $t is o0tside o/ all this# ? 0!a13%ani!had/ ( !A0-e1 trans#"
9ET US 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 pages
*3('C1 as /ollo.s5
7or $saac # # # sho.s the ancient Syrians de/ining their .orld o/ the @R0lers@ and @active
gods@ in the sa-e .ay as the 6haldeans# The lo.est .orld .as the SU%9U&,RN ? o0r
o.n ? .atched by the @,ngels@ o/ the /irst or lo.er order; the one that ca-e ne3t in ran21
.as 7erc0ry1 r0led by the @,R6A,&BE9S@; then ca-e Fen0s1 .hose gods .ere the
R$&6$,9$T$ES; the /o0rth .as that o/ the SU&1 the do-ain and region o/ the highest
and -ightiest gods o/ o0r syste-1 the solar gods o/ all nations; the /i/th .as 7ars1 r0led
by the @F$RTUES@; the si3th ? that o/ %el or E0piter ? .as governed by the =47$&$4&S;
the seventh ? the .orld o/ Sat0rn ? by the TAR4&ES# These are the .orlds o/ /or-#
,bove co-e the /o0r higher ones1 -a2ing seven again1 since the three highe!t are
@0n-entionable and 0nprono0nceable#@ The eighth1 co-posed o/ 11122 stars1 is the
do-ain o/ the *heru6!; the ninth1 belonging to the wal2ing and n0-berless stars on
acco0nt o/ their distance1 has the seraphs; as to the tenth ? <ircher1 I0oting 7or $saac1
says that it is co-posed @o/ invisible stars that co0ld be ta2en1 they said1 /or clo0ds ? so
-assed are they in the Done that .e call :ia Straini!/ the 7il2y :ay;@# # # That .hich
co-es a/ter and beyond the tenth .orld !o0r G0aternary1 or the )ru%a .orld"1 the Syrians
co0ld not tell# @,ll they 2ne. .as that it is there that begins the vast and inco-prehensible
ocean o/ the in/inite1 the abode o/ the tr0e divinity .itho0t bo0ndary or end#@
6ha-pollion sho.s the sa-e belie/ a-ong the Egyptians#
The -ain tho0ght this evening that see-s to call /irst /or /0rther ill0stration is the s0b>ect o/
the bipolar nat0re o/ being1 that is to say1 that there are t.o interacting energy's0bstance
lines in the 2os-os1 .hich together co-prise the totality o/ all evol0tionary processes5 /irst1
the lo.er1 the 2os-o2ratores1 or .orld b0ilders; and second1 the higher1 the intelligences
i-pelling the /or-er into action and overseeing their evol0tionary .ays# The second class is
o/ co0rse the higher1 and co-prises .hat .e1 /ollo.ing A# # %lavats2y1 have called the
Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion#
&o. these t.o lines o/ action1 or classes1 -ay also be called !a" the le/t'hand or -atter'side1
and !b" the right'hand or spirit'side1 i#e#1 !a" the b0ilders1 the 2os-o2ratores1 .ho are in /act
!in one sense" the lo.er principles o/ !b" the dhyani'b0ddhas1 .ho are the right'hand1 or
spirit'side1 o/ being1 .hich latter are o/ the inner 2os-os1 as the 2os-o2ratores or b0ilders1
also called planetary spirits or dhyani'chohans o/ a lo.er grade1 are o/ the o0ter or -aterial
2os-os1 that is1 as said above1 the le/t'hand side1 the -atter'side1 the night'side1 the dar2
side#
Fro- the interaction o/ these t.o I0asi'opposing /orces !or ele-ents" in nat0re co-e into
sel/'conscio0sness the inn0-erable -onads o/ inner and o0ter space1 beca0se this night'
side or -atter'side is -ade 0p o/ the lo.er principles o/ the light'side1 as it .ere; and these
lo.er principles are co-posite1 /or-ed o/ si-ply inn0-erable n0-bers o/ -onads in al-ost
in/initely varying degrees o/ develop-ent# The higher -onads /or- the vehicles o/ the
dhyani'b0ddhas1 the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion; b0t there are -onads1 hosts o/ the-1 o/
inter-ediate and lo.er degrees1 and o/ still lo.er and o/ the lo.est degree; and the lo.est
/or- the -aterial .orld1 .hich .e see aro0nd 0s# ,s said above1 /ro- the interaction o/ the
ind.elling /orce and o/ the vehicle in .hich it .or2s or1 in other .ords1 /ro- the in/or-ing
spirit0al po.ers i-pelling and 0rging these -onads in vario0s states o/ evol0tion to.ards
/0rther progress1 spring the vario0s degrees o/ conscio0snesses in nat0re# :e are so-e o/
these -onads1 both o0r higher egos and o0r personal egos# :e o0rselves are -onads in the
partic0lar state o/ evol0tion in .hich .e /ind o0rselves; and .e are on o0r .ay to beco-ing
conscio0s co'.or2ers .ith nat0re or1 in other .ords1 slo.ly evolving o0t !or into" the dhyani'
chohans or lords o/ conte-plation1 the -anasap0tras1 o/ /0t0re -anvantaras# :e .ere1 in
/or-er 2alpas1 or -anvantaras1 -onads in a still lo.er state o/ evol0tion than that in .hich
.e are no.1 /or-ing then the vehicles o/ those .ho are still ahead o/ 0s1 and .ho no. still
.or2 thro0gh 0s1 thro0gh o0r higher and o0r personal egos1 and .ho th0s inspire 0s to
progress 0p.ards1 and .ho are1 in /act1 o0r inner gods5 o0r very selves1 yet di//erentK
The .or2 o/ evol0tion is1 in /act1 the raising o/ the personal into the i-personal; the raising o/
the -ortal to p0t on the gar-ents o/ i--ortality; the raising o/ the beast to beco-e a -an;
the raising o/ a -an to beco-e a god; and the raising o/ a god to beco-e still -ore largely
divine# :hen .e say @raising a beast to beco-e a -an1@ .e do not1 ho.ever1 thereby -ean
the scienti/ic hypothesis -iscalled evol0tion and properly called trans/or-is-# The
theosophic doctrine o/ evol0tion is i--ensely greater1 in/initely !i/ .e can 0se that
e3pression" -ore pro/o0nd1 than those scienti/ic theories# , beast never beco-es a sel/'
conscio0s1 thin2ing -an according to the scienti/ic -erely -echanical doctrine o/ -aterialistic
trans/or-is-1 any -ore so than a pile o/ -ortar and bric2s sel/'develops into a -ansion1 or a
ro0gh bloc2 o/ -arble into a noble stat0e# $t is the inner -onad1 the ind.elling /ire1 .hich
contin0ally 0rges or brings /orth into action the latent lives and /orces in the ato-s# Each
ato- in itsel/ is a sleeping so0l1 and this1 a.a2ened1 is .hat evolves or develops1 not the
-erely physical body# Re-e-ber the three/old category that A# # %lavats2y gives
0s5 god!/ /irst; onad!1 second; ato!1 third ? gods1 the divine or highest triad; -onads1 the
0pper triad o/ the septenary; and the ato-s1 the lo.er I0aternary o/ the septenary# Each one
o/ those ato-s1 .hich are si-ply incalc0lably great in n0-bers1 /or-ing the lo.er I0aternary1
as already said1 is a sleeping god1 an e-bryo god rather# $ts inner nat0re -0st be bro0ght
o0t1 and that bringing o0t is evol0tion1 the bringing o0t o/ inner capacities1 each ato-'entity
-a2ing1 as it does so1 its o.n vehicles# This is the doctrine o/ sel/'directed evol0tion1
/ollo.ing the 0rge1 the pri-ordial i-press1 o/ the dhyani'chohans# ,ll this has been set /orth
by 0s be/ore#
$n past st0dies .e have spo2en o/ the initiations !and o/ the doctrine o/ evol0tion ta0ght
anciently therein" as being a /orcing'school# This .ord /orcing is a-big0o0s# The .ord is
s0b>ect to -isinterpretation# 9et 0s then p0t in its place the .ord I0ic2ening1 or a.a2ening1
the .ord I0ic2ening -eaning @li/e@ in contrast .ith .hat is inert or dead; there/ore1 it is the
I0ic2ening1 the enlivening1 the bringing o0t o/ that .hich is .ithin# This idea is the 2ey
tho0ght o/ the theosophical doctrine o/ evol0tion#
, beast no -ore develops -echanically into a -an than do pieces o/ ivory1 and c0p/0ls o/
polish1 and pieces o/ .ood and rolls o/ .ire1 nat0rally /all together and ta2e proper /or- and
@trans/or-@ the-selves into a piano# $-possibleK :hat -a2es a piano is the architect o/ it1 the
-an1 the thin2er; so evol0tion is the .or2ing 0pon and in -atter o/ the spirit0al entity .hich
ta2es and /or-s and 0rges on.ards the -aterial vehicles in .hich it is#
:hen .e spea2 o/ the incarnation o/ the -anasap0tras1 the thin2ing entities1 the sons o/
-ind1 it is o/ co0rse 0nderstood that they are parts o/1 or entities /ro-1 the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion1 /ro- the light'side o/ nat0re; and .hile evol0tion1 the nat0ral evolving !.ith the
pri-ordial spirit0al or dhyani'chohanic i-press behind it" o/ nat0re into higher beings1 .o0ld
ta2e place and actuall& ta2e! %lace continuou!l&/ that process .o0ld be al-ost inter-inable
in length o/ ti-e .ere it not /or the higher beings .ho give 0s o/ their light and their li/e1 and
thereby -0ch -ore I0ic2ly lead 0s on# That is .hat is -eant by the -anasap0tras8 @descent
into incarnation#@ They are o0r higher nat0res and1 parado3ical as it is1 are -ore largely
evolved beings than .e are; they .ere the spirit0al entities .ho I0ic2ened o0r personal
egos1 .hich .ere th0s evolved into sel/'conscio0sness1 relatively s-all tho0gh that yet be#
4ne1 and yet -anyK ,s yo0 can light an in/inite n0-ber o/ candles /ro- one lighted candle1
so can yo01 /ro- a spar2 o/ conscio0sness1 I0ic2en and enliven inn0-erable other
conscio0snesses lying1 so to spea21 in sleep1 or latent1 in the ato-s#
This brings 0s directly to another -atter# :e all possibly have heard o/ @contradictions@
in The Secret Doctrine/ or in o0r esoteric teachings# There are no contradictions there; there
are a%%arent contradictions1 i/ yo0 li2e1 b0t an apparent contradiction is really the /ig0re o/
speech called a parado3# $t is the /a-o0s old .ay o/ the ancient schools o/ occ0ltis-1 to
teach by parado3es or by parables1 as Ees0s is said to have done# There is -ani/est a
pro/o0nd 2no.ledge o/ h0-an psychology in basing teachings on this principle# The ai- is
deliberately to aro0se the -ind1 to astonish1 to -a2e the hearer thin2 "or hi!el"+ No0 cannot
teach a child to eat or to .al2 by .al2ing /or it or by /eeding yo0rsel/ /or it# $t -0st learn to
/eed itsel/# $t -0st itsel/ learn to .al2#
Si-ilarly1 st0dents1 neophytes1 -0st learn to thin2 /or the-selves1 to stand 0pon their o.n
/eet# $t is1 $ repeat1 a very pro/o0nd 2no.ledge o/ psychology1 o/ h0-an thin2ing1 .hich -ade
the ancient Teachers1 and -a2es the 7asters o/ .isdo- today1 /ollo. the sa-e old
principles1 a -ethod .hich .e have /ollo.ed since these st0dies .ere beg0n# No0 .ill have
noticed that in no case has any s0b>ect been at /irst openly and /0lly stated or /ollo.ed to its
0lti-ate5 /irst1 beca0se it is i-possible; second1 beca0se it .as obvio0sly necessary to say
certain things /irst1 trying to aro0se attention1 trying to aro0se hone!t ob>ections ? not -erely
criticis-s ? b0t honest ob>ections in yo0r own -ind .hich yo0 yo0rselves -0st solve; and
then later other aspects o/ the s0b>ect .ere bro0ght o0t and other sides o/ the teachings
.ere given# So-e o/ yo0 2no. this /act1 o/ co0rse; b0t $ a- spea2ing -ore partic0larly o/ o0r
yo0nger and ne.er -e-bers# This -ethod is a syste- o/ teaching dia-etrically opposite to
that p0rs0ed in the :estern .orld since the do.n/all o/ the 7editerranean civiliDations# The
pop0lar -ethod today is that o/ the p0re brain'-ind1 o/ that -ind .hich is -ortal and goes to
pieces .ith the death o/ the body# $ts /orte is the -ere -e-oriDing o/ ti-es1 places1 na-es1
dates1 etc#1 in short1 everything that can be -e-oriDed /ro- boo2s or daily occ0rrences1 and
st0//ed into the brain; and this -ind dies# That is one reason .hy .e do not re-e-ber o0r
past incarnations1 beca0se o0r -inds .ere p0ny and dealt .ith little and evanescent things#
%0t the -e-ory o/ o0r past incarnations nevertheless inheres and re-ains in o0r higher
nat0res1 /or this nat0re deals only .ith principles and generals; and so-eday1 .hen .e shall
have passed o0t o/ and beyond o0r planet1 .e shall re-e-ber those past lives1 0nless
indeed they be those cases o/ incarnations o/ a lost so0l1 in .hich cases there re-ain only
blan2 pages1 as it .ere1 in the spirit0al vol0-e o/ li/e#
9et 0s ill0strate so-e o/ these so'called contradictions by a /e. e3a-ples5the oon i! older
than the !un8 the !un i! older than the oon# &o contradiction is here1 b0t there is a parado31
,gain1 the !un i! older than an& o" it! %lanet!8 the %lanet! are older than their !un+ &o
contradiction again1 b0t a parado3# 9et 0s e3plain these parado3es at once# Tracing the
evol0tion o/ the solar syste- according to the esoteric philosophy1 .e point o0t /irst that the
7il2y :ay is the storeho0se o/ celestial bodies to be; as it .ere1 the n0rsery /ro- .hich
seeds o/ /0t0re s0ns go /orth to begin their -anvantaric co0rses# :hen the ti-e co-es /or
s0ch an event to happen1 a co-et1 in its pri-ordial ethereal robes1 starts /orth to enter 0pon
its peregrinations1 and a/ter circling aro0nd and passing thro0gh .hat is to 0s illi-itable
space /or long aeons o/ ti-e1 it1 driven or dra.n by 2ar-a1 or 0nder the g0idance o/ 2ar-a1 i/
yo0 .ill1 reaches that partic0lar region in space .hich .as act0ally the spot or region
occ0pied by itsel/ in a /or-er i-bodi-ent as a s0n1 and it settles there1 and a.a2ens and
enlivens and I0ic2ens the solar d0st aro0nd it !/or space is /0ll o/ it"1 and .e then have a
neb0la# F0rther1 it also gathers aro0nd itsel/ larger ethereal re-nants o/ its /or-er sel/ .hen it
.as a s0n; and these then accrete to the-selves other particles .andering in space1 as .e
can say1 and in d0e co0rse these other bodies1 .ith their accretions1 beco-e the planets o/
the ne. solar syste-#
:hat is a planet; :hat its origin; , s0n r0ns thro0gh its 2alpic co0rse1 its -anvantaric
period1 .hich is a solar -anvantara; and .hen its ti-e co-es to go into pralaya1 into its rest1
its internal /orce is .ea2ened and ? it dies# This is not an event o/ a day1 b0t an event
reI0iring -0ch ti-e; and .hat .as its lo.est principle !corresponding to our physical body"
disintegrates into literally inn0-erable particles# 6all the- ato-s1 i/ yo0 li2e# Re-e-ber1
please1 that the s0n is neither solid ? nor .ill it be then1 .hen it dies ? nor is it liI0id1 nor is it
gaseo0s# ,/ter its death1 it dissolves into inn0-erable ato-s or particles1 and these particles
begin their long peregrinations thro0gh the /ields o/ space1 .andering in the i--ense
solit0des /or long1 long aeons1 0ntil that ind.elling entity o/ the /or-er s0n1 .hich has its o.n
inspiring inner presence1 co-es again 0nder the /or- o/ a co-et and rea.a2ens .hat is no.
the solar d0st o/ its /or-er vehicle'sel/ in the space .here it /or-erly .as ? that d0st being
the re-nants o/ its o.n /or-er body# ,nd these particles o/ the s0n that .as1 are attracted to
it again and /or- its s0ite o/ planets# Th0s1 in a sense1 the planets o/ a s0n are its @-oons#@
So1 yo0 see1 as an entity1 the s0n is older than any one o/ its planetary syste-1 re-nants o/
its /or-er body; b0t the planets are older than the s0n that no. is1 beca0se they act0ally are
particles o/ the /or-er s0n that .as o/ this plane# :here is the contradiction; , parado31
tr0ly1 .hich .e had to solve; /or the solving I0ic2ens o0r int0ition1 and that is one o/ the -ain
ai-s and p0rposes o/ this syste- o/ teaching1 the I0ic2ening o/ the int0ition# 40r brain'-ind
is a -ost ad-irable servant .hen 0nder direction1 b0t it sho0ld never be o0r -aster# $t is not
even a good servant; it has no sel/'respect# $t has no discri-ination1 >0dg-ent1 int0ition1 or
0nderstanding#
,nd si-ilar to the above is the parado3 concerning the -oon# erhaps at so-e /0t0re st0dy
.e -ay have ti-e to e3plain it# ,lso si-ilar is the case o/ the planetoids1 or the so'called
asteroids1 o/ .hich there are so -any bet.een the planets E0piter and 7ars# They are
re-nants o/ a /or-er solar -anvantara#
F0rther1 all the planets not in obsc0ration or sleeping !as 7ars is" are s0rro0nded .ith thic2
and o/ten greatly condensed clo0ds o/ the 2os-ic d0st .hich they have accreted 0nto
the-selves; it act0ally is the /or-er solar d0st o/ no. disintegrated -oons and planets# For
over o0r o.n heads and over and aro0nd every one o/ the nonsleeping planets o/ o0r solar
syste-1 there is a continent1 literally a continent1 o/ this 2os-ic d0st1 so thic2 is that solar d0st
and so n0-ero0s are the bodies or particles o/ vario0s siDes .hich co-pose it# $t acts as a
veil protecting 0s /ro- the terri/ic energy o/ the s0n1 acting not -erely as a veil o/ protection
against his rays alone1 b0t also against other accidents that -ight happen to 0s .ere there
no s0ch protecting veil s0rro0nding o0r globe in thic2 /olds#
7ars has at present none or very little o/ s0ch a protecting veil1 si-ply beca0se its li/e'
energies have gone to another globe o/ the 7artian planetary syste- ? the 7artian planetary
chain ? and the attractive -agnetic /orce .hich holds together s0ch a veil there/ore is largely
absent# %0t Fen0s and 7erc0ry1 /or instance1 have1 as .e have1 s0ch a protecting veil1
altho0gh -0ch thinner in 7erc0ry8s case than in that o/ Fen0s1 beca0se 7erc0ry is >0st
e-erging /ro- obsc0ration1 and it is .hat the astrono-ers see .hen they loo2 at those
planets thro0gh their telescopes1 .hen they see the @clo0ds1@ and note that they cannot see
the /ace o/ the planet itsel/# They really see the veil# :e are not conscio0s o/ the veil
protecting 0s# So-e.hat li2e a -an in a roo- .ith one o/ those .hite net c0rtains over his
.indo. ? he can see o0t.ards1 and discern .hat passes in the street beyond; b0t the -an in
the street cannot easily see hi-#
,s a /inal e3a-ple this evening o/ the 0se o/ the parado3 in o0r st0dy1 $ ta2e the /ollo.ing# ,t
a /or-er st0dy .e said that nat0re never repeats hersel/# :e repeat it this evening5 nat0re
never repeats hersel/# $n a later st0dy .e stated that nat0re does nothing b0t repeat hersel/#
:e repeat it this evening5 nat0re does nothing b0t repeat hersel/# 6ontradiction; &o#
arado3; Nes# 9et 0s see i/ .e can -a2e this apparent contradiction a little clearer# :hat are
cycles; Repetitions# :hat are hierarchies; Repetitions# :hat are the -ain repetitions o/ a
general type; rinciples1 /orces1 planets1 s0ns1 orbs1 ato-s1 -onads1 gods ? all are -ani/old
repetitions o/ pri-al spirit0al i-presses# &at0re .or2s in no other .ay than by repeating
hersel/ ? repetitions on in/erior planes o/ pri-ordial principles or root'types#
&o.1 .hat -ean .e in saying that nat0re never repeats hersel/; 9et 0s here 0se o0r
co--on sense# :e are not here to a-0se each other .ith /olly# &at0re li2e.ise never
repeats hersel/1 beca0se yo0 .ill never /ind t.o principles identical1 no t.o cycles are
identical1 no t.o -en are identical1 no t.o -onads1 no t.o s0ns1 no t.o planets1 no t.o
so0ls1 no t.o egos are identical# 40r parado3 then is solved by re-e-bering that nat0re8s
-ethod is unit& in endle!! di4er!it&+
:e ret0rn no. to o0r -ain the-e# The Syrians had the /ollo.ing -ethod or syste- o/
describing the stages o/ being .hich .e represent in the acco-panying diagra-5 !1" the
7il2y :ay1 or the /irst principle; !2" &eb0lae and 6o-ets1 or Seraphi-1 sphere t.o1 co0nting
do.n.ards; !3" the Fi3ed Stars1 or 6her0bi-# These three .ere the For-less :orld# Then
the planets5 !*" Sat0rn1 Thrones; !(" E0piter1 =o-inations; !C" 7ars1 Firt0es; !7" S0n1 o.ers;
!+" Fen0s1 rincipalities; !9" 7erc0ry1 ,rchangels; !1)" 7oon1 ,ngels# These eight1 incl0ding
Earth1 7en1 .ere the :orld o/ For-#
Then .e .ill dra.1 i/ yo0 please1 a circle .hich .ill represent a sphere1 and let it be o0r
Earth; and .e .ill divide this Earth into /ive Dones1 the top-ost one being that o/ ether; the
one 0nderneath it being /ire; the one 0nderneath that being air; the one 0nderneath that
being .ater; and the lo.est one being earth#
lease 0nderstand also that the Syrians conceived o/ this .orld'syste- as a sphere1 as a
2os-os; hence1 o0r design -0st have a circle s0rro0nding it ? a conventional /ig0re1 it is tr0e1
and not i-plying any partic0lar li-itations1 b0t signi/ying the bo0nding circle o/ that partic0lar
2os-os or hierarchy# The Syrians /0rther said that o0tside o/ this hierarchy1 o/ this 2os-os1
there .ere the 6elestial :aters1 -eaning thereby .hat the Bree2s called 6haos1 or 2os-ic
-atter 0ndeveloped /or 0s1 the .aters o/ space1 in other .ords# ,s regards this -etaphor1
6elestial :aters1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber .hat the Aebre. %ible also says abo0t the @spirit o/ the
Elohi-@ or gods -oving on the /ace o/ the @.aters#@
The three highest planes are .hat .e call ar0pa1 or /or-less; and the other seven !or eight"
planes are r0pa1 or /or-ed# They ta0ght that in the beginning o/ things1 i#e#1 .hen 2os-ic
evol0tion began1 the pri-ordial essence evolved /orth the -ost s0btil and the -ost spirit0al
ele-ent1 and this nat0rally .as the highest1 the 7il2y :ay1 .here all things begin in this
syste-; and that the ne3t step in evol0tion do.n.ards .as the co-ets and the neb0lae; and
then the @11122 /i3ed stars@; and then the vario0s solar syste-s ? o0r o.n solar syste-1 as
an e3a-ple1 bringing 0s th0s to the /irst o/ the seven planetary regions# ,ny other solar
syste- .o0ld have ans.ered1 b0t o0rs nat0rally .as chosen1 being o0rs# Each o/ these
steps do.n.ards represents the stage that the evolving .ave o/ li/e had to pass thro0gh
be/ore it /inally c0l-inated in -aterial e3istence as on o0r earth1 /or instance; /inally passing
thro0gh the last seven stages1 the s0rro0nding planes o/ the globe# First o/ these last seven
.as .hat .e -ay call the &a-eless Ele-ent; then the s0perether; then the ether; and then
the /ire; and then the air; and then the .ater; and then the earth ? these ele-ents not being
the -aterial things /a-iliar to 0s1 b0t the spirits o/ the ele-ents1 the pri-ordial -atter o/
.hich o0r ele-ents are -erely the -aterial representation#
No0 .ill notice that the 6hristian ,postle1 a0l1 spea2s o/ several o/ these po.ers or
ele-ents pertaining or belonging to the vario0s planets as above described in the Syrian
syste-1 s0ch as the =o-inions1 and the Firt0es1 the Thrones1 the rincipalities1 the
,rchangels1 and the ,ngels# No0 .ill also re-e-ber that in a /or-er st0dy .e pointed o0t
that really all 6hristian -ysticis- .as /o0nded by =ionysi0s1 the so'called ,reopagite1 .ho
also 0sed these sa-e na-es; so that in addition to the tho0ghts .hich 6hristianity dre. /ro-
&eoplatonis- and &eopythagoreanis-1 it also dre. /ro- !thro0gh a0l hi-sel/ .ho .as a
Syrian" these ancient 7ystery'teachings as e3oterically e3pressed in the hierarchy as sho.n
in the diagra-# %0t behind this o0t.ard e3pression there .as the sa-e e3position1 there .as
the sa-e esoteric syste- and tr0th1 that .e have been st0dying /or so-e -onths past#
hapter Twenty-Five
The 7ysteries o/ Septenary &at0re# 6orrespondences5 Blobes1 Ele-ents1
A0-an rinciples# The Seven Sacred lanets o/ the ,ncients# Racial
Ti-e eriods and 6atastrophes#
%0t 0pon this one o/ those -ore antient priests Lo/ EgyptM e3clai-ed1 4 Solon1 Solon1 yo0
Bree2s are al.ays children1 nor is there any s0ch thing as an aged Brecian a-ong yo0K
%0t Solon1 .hen he heard this ? :hat !says he" is the -otive o/ yo0r e3cla-ation; To
.ho- the priest5 ? %eca0se all yo0r so0ls are >0venile; neither containing any antient
opinion derived /ro- re-ote tradition1 nor any discipline hoary /ro- its e3istence in /or-er
periods o/ ti-e# %0t the reason o/ this is the -0ltit0de and variety o/ destr0ctions o/ the
h0-an race1 .hich /or-erly have been1 and again .ill be5 the greatest o/ these indeed
arising /ro- /ire and .ater; b0t the lesser /ro- ten tho0sand other contingencies# # # # %0t
.hatever has been transacted either by 0s1 or by yo01 or in any other place1 bea0ti/0l or
great1 or containing any thing 0nco--on o/ .hich .e have heard the report1 every thing
o/ this 2ind is to be /o0nd described in o0r te-ples1 and preserved to the present day# ?
lato1 Tiaeu!1 pp# *CC'7 !Tho-as Taylor1 trans#"
9ET US 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- the /irst vol0-e o/The Secret
Doctrine/ pages C11'121 section 1(1 entitled @Bods1 7onads1 and ,to-s@5
The e3act e3tent1 depth1 breadth1 and length o/ the -ysteries o/ &at0re are to be /o0nd
only in Eastern esoteric sciences# So vast and so pro/o0nd are these that hardly a /e.1 a
very /e. o/ the highest $nitiates ? those who!e 4er& e@i!tence i! 2nown 6ut to a !all
nu6er o" )de%t! ? are capable o/ assi-ilating the 2no.ledge# Net it is all there1 and one
by one /acts and processes in &at0re8s .or2shops are per-itted to /ind their .ay into the
e3act Sciences1 .hile -ysterio0s help is given to rare individ0als in 0nravelling its arcana#
$t is at the close o/ great 6ycles1 in connection .ith racial develop-ent1 that s0ch events
generally ta2e place# :e are at the very close o/ the cycle o/ (1))) years o/ the present
,ryan <aliy0ga; and bet.een this ti-e and 1+97 there .ill be a large rent -ade in the
Feil o/ &at0re1 and -aterialistic science .ill receive a death'blo.# # # #
# # # Fro- the very beginning o/ ,Eons ? in ti-e and space in o0r Ro0nd and Blobe ? the
7ysteries o/ &at0re !at any rate1 those .hich it is la./0l /or o0r races to 2no." .ere
recorded by the p0pils o/ those sa-e no. invisible @heavenly -en1@ in geo-etrical /ig0res
and sy-bols# The 2eys thereto passed /ro- one generation o/ @.ise -en@ to the other#
,t o0r last -eeting .e disc0ssed a diagra- sho.ing the Syrian vie.s1 /ro- an e3oteric
standpoint1 o/ the e3ternal and internal str0ct0re o/ the 2os-os; and so-e o/ yo01 .ho
perhaps observed care/0lly1 .ill have noticed that this diagra--atic hierarchy see-ed to be
represented as all on one plane# &o. that is tr0e1 in a certain sense; b0t there is -0ch in
connection .ith that /act that .e co0ld not then and no. cannot spea2 o/1 /or the si-ple
reason that .e have not as yet laid the /o0ndations /or properly 0nderstanding it# 9et it then
s0//ice this evening to say that1 as a -atter o/ real /act1 the hierarchies interact and
inter-ingle ? cross each other in all directions1 as it .ere#
,s re-ar2ed in a /or-er st0dy1 the direction o/ o0r evol0tion is @o0t.ards@ at /irst1 and
@in.ards@ secondly# 4n descending the shado.y arc or the arc o/ -atter in the beginning o/
the -anvantara o/ this o0r planetary chain1 the direction .hich .e /ollo.ed1 as -e-bers o/
o0r planetary li/e'.ave1 .as /ro- .ithin o0t.ards1 i#e#1 /ro- inner planes1 /ro- inner .orlds1
constantly proceeding @do.n.ards@ ? that is1 into ever'increasing -ateriality; and .hen .e
reached the -iddle o/ the /o0rth ro0nd on this o0r globe1 .hich is the central or t0rning point
o/ the -anvantara o/ this planetary chain1 the i-p0lse slac2ened and /inally reached its close
in .hat .e call the /o0rth root'race1 the ,tlantean race# Therea/ter the reverse process began
its action1 and progress1 advance-ent1 develop-ent1 retraced its steps1 as it .ere1 in a spiral1
the direction thence/or.ard being /ro- .itho0t in.ards1 or an ascent in ever'increasing
spirit0ality# This process o/ a pri-al descent into -ateriality1 /ollo.ed by a reascent into
spirit0ality1 is the co0rse /ollo.ed not -erely in the constr0ction1 develop-ent1 and
cons0--ation o/ the destiny o/ a planetary chain1 and o/ all planetary chains1 b0t also is the
co0rse /ollo.ed in the larger cycles o/ evol0tion1 s0ch as the solar 2alpas1 /or instance1 .hich
co-prise1 each one1 seven o/ the planetary -anvantaras# Seven planetary -anvantaras
-a2e one solar 2alpa; in other .ords1 seven =ays o/ %rah-a or seven planetary cycles1 each
cycle consisting o/ seven ro0nds1 /or- one solar 2alpa !or -anvantara"#
$n order to assist o0r -inds in 0nderstanding o0r st0dy this evening1 in order to help 0s in
conceiving the idea1 let 0s dra. seven circles representing seven globes5 three on the
do.n.ard cycle or shado.y arc1 one at the botto- or t0rning point1 and three on the
ascending or l0-ino0s arc or cycle# :e -ay n0-ber .ith the letters o/ the alphabet#
&o. these circles represent1 i/ yo0 .ill1 the globes o/ the planetary chain1 and the evol0tion o/
the li/e'.ave beginning on globe , and r0nning there thro0gh its appointed cycles1
co-pleting the-1 and then entering %; a/ter co-pleting its co0rse on %1 then entering 6; and
then1 on ending its co0rse /or the ro0nd on 61 entering =1 .here .e are no.1 and also in the
/o0rth ro0nd# :e are th0s hal/.ay aro0nd the co0rse /or o0r ro0nd1 the /o0rth1 and so-e.hat
-ore1 beca0se .e are the /i/th root'race o/ o0r globe =1 on .hich seven root'races -0st r0n
their co0rse#
Each o/ these globes1 /0rther-ore is b0ilded o0t o/1 and has its correspondence .ith1 .hat
the ancients called the ele-ents1 that is to say1 the bases o/ the seven principles o/ nat0re#
They are /0rther-ore called @r0di-ents1@ not in the sense o/ so-ething inco-plete1 b0t in the
original sense o/ root'things1 originants# The Sans2rit .ord /or the principles
istattwa/ -eaning @a reality1@ not the 0tter-ost reality1 the ,bsol0te o/ any hierarchy1 b0t its
root'di//erentiations in -ani/estation; and the .ord /or the ele-ents is 6huta/ each ele-ent
springing /ro- its predecessor or s0perior and giving li/e and birth to another1 its in/erior# The
ancients al.ays rec2oned /o0r ele-ents1 and so-eti-es /ive; o0r School rec2ons seven in
all# The 0s0al en0-eration o/ the ancients is as /ollo.s5 aether1 /ire1 air1 .ater and1 lastly1
earth# The last t.o principles to be en0-erated1 and the last t.o ele-ents1 the bases o/ the
/or-er t.o1 have been given no na-es e3oterically1 beca0se they are not yet 2no.n by o0r
present senses# A0-an conscio0sness does not yet recogniDe the-1 b0t they are
recogniDed1 ta0ght o/1 and na-ed1 in the esoteric philosophy nevertheless; and they are
called1 /or the second1 anu%a%ada2a1tattwa/ a Sans2rit .ord very di//ic0lt to e3plain in
English# The general -eaning is that it does not proceed /ro- anything else1 i#e#1
@parentless#@ $t proceeds /ro- itsel/# Finally1 the /irst o/ all the seven1 the 0pper-ost on the
descending arc o/ nat0re1 is called adi1tattwa or @original tatt.a1@ /or the principle; and adi1
6huta /or the corresponding ele-ent1 beca0se it belongs to the sa-e plane o/ being o/ the
2os-os as the principle adi'tatt.a1 b0t in a so-e.hat lo.er degree1 being the base or
vehicle o/ the /or-er1 the principle#
These ele-ents1 o/ co0rse1 are not the /a-iliar things .hich .e 2no. 0nder these na-es ?
/ire1 .ater1 air1 or earth ? b0t these /a-iliar things are their correspondences on o0r earth1 in
a -ystic sense# &o.1 altho0gh the seven globes o/ the planetary chain are not the seven
ele-ents respectively1 each to each1 yet each globe is b0ilded 0p o0t o/ the- all and1
/0rther-ore1 one o/ the seven ele-ents predo-inates in each one o/ the globes respectively#
,ll this .ill be el0cidated in o0r /0t0re st0dies1 .hen .e co-e to st0dy the lo2as and talas#
For instance1 on globe ,5 the /ire'I0ality .o0ld not be o0r -aterial earth'/ire; it .o0ld there
be the!%irit o" "ire/ so to say1 the root o/ /ire1 beca0se in the esoteric philosophy @/ire@ is not
-erely the res0lt o/ co-b0stion1 according to -odern scienti/ic ideas1 b0t is an act0al
ele-ent1 a r0di-ent1 a base# ,nd si-ilarly .ith air1 proceeding /ro- /ire1 born /ro- /ire; and
si-ilarly .ith the ele-ent .ater1 proceeding /ro- air1 born /ro- it; and again earth born /ro-
.ater1 i#e#1 the ele-ent .ater#
$t is li2e.ise the old Stoic doctrine1 that the ele-ents give birth one to another# 7ani/estation
begins on the spirit0al plane1 and as the li/e i-p0lses reach /orth into grosser /or-s1 into
-atter !to 0se the pop0lar e3pression"1 the s0cceeding ele-ents !bases1 r0di-ents" are
born1 each one /ro- the preceding one1 and /ro- all %receding one!+ For instance1 earth is
born not -erely /ro- the ele-ent .ater1 b0t li2e.ise /ro- /ire1 and air# F0rther-ore1 the
seven ro0nds o/ a planetary chain1 the seven globes o/ a planetary chain1 and the seven root'
races o/ any globe thereo/1 has each its predo-inating correspondence .ith one o/ these
seven ele-ents# lease 0nderstand that .e -ean not at all the /a-iliar things .e 2no. on
o0r earth by those na-es1 b0t the bases1 the originants1 the @spirits@ o/ the-5 the ca0ses1 the
tatt.as1 the real things .hich prod0ce .hat .e see here on o0r earth#
F0rther-ore1 the seven sacred planets are1 each one o/ the-1 a -ani/estation1 an
incorporealiDation1 o/ the po.ers o/ one o/ the seven solar logoi1 or spirit0al /orces o/ o0r
solar 2os-os1 o/ .hich /orce'ele-ents .e -ay see a /aint -ani/estation or1 i/ yo0 .ill1 an
ad0-bration1 in the seven colors o/ the solar spectr0-# :e reserve /0rther clearer
e3planation o/ this /or /0t0re st0dies#
lease note also that o0r o.n h0-an seven principles correspond each one1 respectively
and relatively1 .ith one o/ these ele-ents# The seven principles and ele-ents o/ -an are a
d0plication in hi- o/ the seven principles and ele-ents o/ the 2os-os# The seven ele-ents1
or bases1 or r0di-ents1 are the seven vehicles o/ the seven principles o/ the 2os-os# These
ele-ents are at the sa-e ti-e s0bstance and energy or /orce1 beca0se energy and
s0bstance /0nda-entally are the sa-e thing# 7atter and /orce are /0nda-entally the sa-e
thing# $t is1 as it .ere1 the 0pper and the lo.er side1 the in.ard and o0t.ard1 the i-p0lse and
its res0lts or /r0its#
,nd /0rther-ore1 .ith regard to the seven sacred planets -entioned above5 .hen the
esoteric science o/ the ancients spo2e o/ seven !acredplanets1 certain ones especially .ere
designated beca0se1 as a -atter o/ /act1 each o/ the planets 2no.n to 0s is itsel/ connected
.ith seven other planets .hich are to it it! seven sacred planets# 40r earth is not one o/ the
seven sacred planets o/ the ancients# Those seven sacred planets .ere Sat0rn; E0piter;
Fen0s; 7erc0ry; the planet very near to the s0n1 at present invisible b0t s0spected1 and
called by so-e -odern astrono-ers F0lcan; a si3th .hich .e -erely -ention1 at present;
and a seventh so-eti-es seen near the -oon ? by those .ho @have eyes to see@K
$t .ill be recollected that it .as re-ar2ed at a /or-er st0dy that the F0lcan'planet .as /irst
discovered1 or s0pposed to be discovered1 on 7arch 2Cth1 1+(91 .hen it .as seen in transit
across the solar dis21 and astrono-ers since then have searched /or it and have not been
able to /ind it# The teaching .ith re/erence to that planet1 the highest !in one sense" o/ o0r
seven sacred planets1 is this1 that it beca-e invisible to o0r physical senses at abo0t the
-iddle point o/ the third root'race; b0t as .e have no. reached again1 on the 0p.ard arc1 the
plane corresponding to the degree o/ plane'develop-ent o/ the third root'race1 in a relatively
short cyclic period it sho0ld begin again to sho. itsel/; b0t even today1 .hile it -ight be
generally invisible on acco0nt o/ .hat .e -ay call its ethereality1 i/ searched /or by telescope
it -ight nevertheless be seen1 0nder /avorable conditions1 crossing the solar dis2# ,nd .hy;
%eca0se the tr0ly indescribable brilliance o/ the s0n thro.s anything that appears be/ore it
into visibility1 so to spea21 as a dar2er body1 and it co0ld th0s be seen as s0ch a shado.y
body crossing the solar dis2# ,t least that is one reason1 probably1 .hy astrono-ers have
searched /or this planet and have ? or have not yet ? /o0nd it#
:ith regard to the seventh -entioned above1 .hich is the @lo.est@ o/ o0r seven sacred
planets1 the one esoterically spo2en o/ as near the -oon1 that planet is in its last or seventh
ro0nd1 and is there/ore dying# The probability is that it also1 to o0r present physical senses1 is
-ore or less ethereal1 and there/ore practically invisible1 e3cept 0nder certain very /avorable
conditions# %e/ore o0r planet shall have reached its last or seventh ro0nd1 o0r -oon .ill have
disintegrated into stellar d0st1 b0t by that ti-e this secret or 7ystery'planet near the -oon
and no. dying .ill be dead1 and .ill be to 0s as a -oon; not a tr0e -oon in the sense o/ o0r
l0nar -other1 b0t rather a satellite# $t .ill a%%ear to 0s as a -oon; and1 indeed1 .ill be a
@-oon1@ beca0se it .ill be a dead body#
There is a great deal that si-ply cannot be said ? at least not yet ? abo0t these seven sacred
or 7ystery'planets# %0t .e have pointed o0t be/ore that the seven principal dhyani'chohans1
or lords o/ -editation1 are very inti-ately connected1 each to each1 respectively1 .ith the
seven 7ystery'planets or sacred planets1 that is1 the seven .hich are the sacred planets /or
the earth# There are -any other planets in o0r solar syste-1 b0t only seven o/ that n0-ber
are o0r seven sacred planets#
Each other planet1 E0piter1 let 0s say /or instance1 has its o.n seven sacred planets1 and all
belonging to o0r solar syste-1 b0t not all o/ the- .o0ld necessarily be our seven sacred
planets# Net each one1 by the interconnection or inter-ingling o/ the ele-ents o/ 2os-ic
constr0ction1 each one o/ the-1 $ say1 is a solar loc0s#
Aere again is so-ething that .e -0st to0ch 0pon be/ore .e pass on /arther#
7an is higher than the globe be lives on# 7an is higher than the s0n# No0 and $ sitting here1
occ0py a stat0s spirit0ally higher than the s0n1 altho0gh it is the spirit0al and vital loc0s o/ the
solar syste-# The s0n .e see is not the tr0e s0n# The s0n .e see is -erely the /oc0s o/ the
titanic /orces playing on the other side1 thro0gh it# ,nd -an is higher than it1 and yet co-es
/ro- it1 /ro- the inner side o/ it1 so to say# F0rther1 as pointed o0t in another st0dy1 do not be
carried a.ay by scienti/ic theories1 /or science is absol0tely no criterion o/ spirit0al
2no.ledge1 .hich is1 as yet1 /ar beyond its scope or reach# 40r physical bodies1 i#e#1 the body
o/ each one o/ 0s1 is a 2os-os1 even1 relatively spea2ing1 a 0niversal 2os-os# 7odern
science is beginning to s0spect this tr0th1 and the scientists no. spea2 o/ the ato-1 /or-ed
o/ its electrons and protons1 as co-posing a -iniat0re solar syste-# There is no particle o/
s0bstance or -atter .hich is /ree /ro- li/e1 barren o/ intelligent li/e and lives; and there are
beings in and on the electrons o/ the ato-s o/ o0r body .hich are higher than
the %er!onal sel/ o/ 0s is# , s0bli-e tho0ght to thin2 abo0tK :e have1 indeed1 higher
responsibilities inherent in 0s than .e drea- o/# 40r body1 in very tr0th1 is a te-ple o/ li/e#
$ have received a letter /ro- a /riend .hich is .ell .orth reading at this point# $ cite a portion
o/ it .ith an incl0ded I0otation concerning the planet F0lcan5
@Seeliger has concl0sively sho.n that there is eno0gh o/ the cos-ic d0st .hich /or-s the
Hodiacal 9ight to acco0nt /or all the discrepancies in the -ove-ents o/ 7erc0ry1@ and so
-a2e a F0lcan 0nnecessary#
This .as .ritten abo0t t.elve years ago1 and .as s0pposed to settle the .hole di//ic0lty
o/ 7erc0ry8s *2 seconds per cent0ry change in perihelion position#
&ote /irst5 the pert0rbations in the -ove-ents o/ 7erc0ry .ere /irst e3plained by an 0n2no.n
planet called F0lcan# :ell1 F0lcan co0ld not be /o0nd again1 so the theorists said that it -0st
be cos-ic d0st .hich prod0ces these pert0rbations# Second theory5 $ I0ote again /ro- the
letter5
Then co-es /riend Einstein and starts e3plaining it in an entirely di//erent .ay1 and
@cos-ic d0st@ in its t0rn is scienti/ically -ade a.ay .ith# Then co-es ro/essor oor o/
6ol0-bia University and sho.s that Einstein8s theory abo0t 7erc0ry 0psets the positions
o/ the other planets -ore than it helps 7erc0ry ? so there yo0 areK
$ ad-ire their .onder/0l ingen0ity in -a2ing theories /or the -arvels they have discovered
0nder the li-ited conditions at their disposal1 b0t .e certainly -0st 2eep an open -ind on
the things .hich are s0b>ect to s0ch vario0s interpretations#
Fery .ell p0t# $t covers the gro0nd very neatly#
:e are nearing the concl0sion o/ o0r st0dy /or this evening1 b0t -ean.hile there is a -atter
.hich reI0ires so-e treat-ent be/ore .e close1 and that is .ith regard to the root'races o/
any globe o/ o0r planetary chain# Ta2e the races1 /or instance1 o/ o0r o.n globe = o/ o0r
planetary chain1 globe = being the lo.est in the chain1 as yo0 2no.# &o. these root'races
occ0py vastly -ore ti-e in their evol0tion than is co--only s0pposed# Ti-e r0ns into
-illions o/ years /or any and /or each root'race# $t is s0pposed by so-e .ho have not read A#
# %lavats2y8s Secret Doctrine .ith attention that o0r root'race1 the /i/th1 is only abo0t one
-illion years old no.# That idea is not tr0e1 and A# # %lavats2y says nothing o/ the sort# $n
vol0-e $$1 page *3(1 she says that o0r /i/th root'race is abo0t one -illion years old1 as a
race !ui generi! and Huite "ree "ro it! %arent1!te+ Ao. -any -ore -illion years did it
reI0ire to reach even that point1 born as a root'race at abo0t the central point o/ the -other'
race; $t reI0ired -illions o/ years /or o0r race to reach the central point o/ its career1 where
we are now+ 40r great racial catastrophe1 .hich .ill co-e 0pon 0s as their o.n ca-e in d0e
ti-e 0pon all other /or-er root'races1 and as s0ch a catastrophe .ill co-e 0pon the t.o
races .hich are to s0cceed o0r /i/th race1 i#e#1 the si3th and seventh root'races1 has not yet
reached 0s1 b0t it is co-ing#
,nother thing5 .hile each root'race is destroyed alternately by /ire and by .ater1 let 0s not
/orget that the other ele-ents li2e.ise are at .or2 at the sa-e ti-e; b0t it is /ire and .ater
-ore partic0larly .hich a//ect and ca0se the displace-ents o/ continents or rather their
s0b-ergence1 and the e-ergence or rising o/ the ne. lands# There is an interesting point o/
o0r doctrines in this connection1 and $ no. brie/ly all0de to it#
The teaching is that the /irst1 the third1 the /i/th1 and the seventh root'races are .hat -ay be
called aI0eo0s; and the second1 the /o0rth1 and the si3th ? those .ith even n0-bers ? are
.hat .e -ay call the terreo0s races# $n other .ords1 those .ith 0neven n0-bers1 11 31 (1 and
71 /lo0rish on o0r globe at ti-es .hen the oceans cover -ore o/ its s0r/ace than does the
land; and the conditions are reversed in the second1 /o0rth1 and si3th root'races1 .hen there
is -ore land than .ater on the globe8s s0r/ace# Fire destroyed the /irst race1 as it destroyed
the third race also; .ater destroyed the second and also the /o0rth race; and /ire .ill destroy
the /i/th1 .ater the si3th1 and /ire again the seventh# &o.1 geologically spea2ing1 it is this
alternation in e3tent o/ land or .ater .hich brings abo0t this cyclical condition#
9et 0s try to -a2e this -atter a little -ore clear# The third race perished by /ire1 .hich -eans
the action o/ s0bterrene earthI0a2es and o/ volcanoes8 principally1 /ollo.ed by s0b-ergence#
&o. the third race .as an aI0eo0s race1 that is to say1 there .as then -ore .ater on the
/ace o/ the earth than land# So today1 in o0r /i/th race1 at abo0t the -iddle period o/ o0r race8s
li/e cycle1 there is one'third as -0ch land as .ater on the s0r/ace o/ the globe1 i#e#1 three
ti-es as -0ch .ater as land# :hen o0r root'race shall be dra.ing to.ards its end1 the
co-ing catastrophe .ill be sho.n by i--ense syste-ic and -inor seis-ic and volcanic
dist0rbances1 anno0ncing the s0b-ergence o/ o0r continental syste- and the e-ergence o/
ne. lands /or the /ollo.ing si3th root'race1 the .or2ing o/ /ire# :hen the ,tlantean syste-
/ell1 .hen the ,tlantean continental syste- had its catastrophe .hich slo.ly over.hel-ed it
.ith /lood1 it .as .ater .hich ca0sed it# There .as then -ore land than .ater; nat0re so0ght
a read>0st-ent1 a better balance1 and that great syste- perished by /loods# The .ater ca-e
and s0b-erged the land1 o/ co0rse also acco-panied by earthI0a2es and the action o/
volcanoes# :e -0st not i-agine that .hen a root'race perishes thro0gh /ire or .ater as the
chie/ ca0sative agent1 that there is then no aI0eo0s or terrene'/ire dist0rbance# 4n the
contrary1 /ire and .ater .or2 together1 b0t the one or the other then predo-inates# The
/o0rth1 the ,tlantean1 .as a terreo0s period1 and nat0re /ollo.ed her 0s0al co0rse in cases o/
dist0rbed eI0ilibri0- ? @and the .aters ca-e and over.hel-ed the land#@ :hence the
@.aters ca-e@ is a -ost /ascinating s0b>ect /or st0dy1 b0t .e have no ti-e to go into it
tonight# 40rs is an aI0eo0s period; and in d0e co0rse the .aters .ill slo.ly tend to
disappear1 giving place to ne. lands in the /0t0re1 the d.elling places to be o/ the ne3t1 the
si3th root'race#
Katherine Tingle&5 $ .o0ld li2e to as2 ro/essor de 0r0c2er i/ he .ill -a2e an e3planation ?
.hich $ thin2 .o0ld be satis/actory to yo01 and .hich he co0ld do -0ch better than $ ? and
sho. .hat .ill be the state o/ civiliDation1 o/ h0-anity1 at the ending o/ these di//erent races1
.hen the end co-es; Ao. .ill evol0tion be -ar2ed; :ill not those people .ho .ill see- to
be the @victi-s@ o/ the terrible catastrophe .hich co-es at the end o/ every race have the
2no.ledge o/ the secrets o/ death1 and loo2 0pon rebirth as a glorio0s release;
'+ de $uruc2er5 $ thin2 certainly so# The end o/ every race brings .ith it a per/ection o/ .hat
that race .as striving to acco-plish# ,nd $ dare say that i/ .e co0ld loo2 bac2 and 2no. .hat
too2 place .hen the continent o/ ,tlantis san21 .e sho0ld realiDe that even those
co-paratively /e.1 .ho by death le/t the physical body d0ring that catastrophe1 had the
realiDation that .hat they had to 0ndergo .as no -ore and no less than -erely one /or- o/
death inevitable to all -en sooner or later# They 2ne. better than .e do no.1 altho0gh /ar
-ore s0n2en in -atter1 that li/e is eternal1 /or1 act0ally1 there i! nothing 6ut li"e
e4er&whereJ ,nd their physicians co0ld have told the-1 and did tell the-1 /or they 2ne.1 that
every disease o/ o0r bodies co-es abo0t /ro- an e3cess o/ li/e1 partic0larly .hat .e -ay call
the -alignant or .asting diseases# $n these cases it is li/e r0nning riot in the body1 and that is
.hat ca0ses death# They 2ne. it better than .e#
F0rther-ore1 no one sho0ld thin2 that in these racial catastrophes everyone is s.ept a.ay in
a -o-ent in a /ear/0l con/0sion and chaos1 and that there is no hope1 and that everything is
b0t .ild despair# &ot at all# These catastrophes co-e on slo.ly# The continents sin2 thro0gh
the ages# 7an -igrates and leaves the sin2ing lands behind1 and -oves to higher and better
ones1 ne. ones1 /resh ones1 .here ne. races are born o0t o/ .hat .e >0stly -ay call the
death o/ the old#
&othing1 $ s0ppose1 that $ -ight -ention1 co0ld eI0al the horror o/ the catastrophe o/ 9isbon
years ago1 .hen tens o/ tho0sands o/ people perished in an earthI0a2e; or the /ear/0l
catastrophe at 7essina1 in Sicily1 only a /e. years ago; and other earthI0a2es and tidal
.aves .hich yo0 all -ay re-e-ber# :e are in o0r o.n great cyclical catastrophe no.1
tho0gh it is b0t beginning# Ao. -0ch .orse is the agony o/ heart1 let 0s say1 o/ one .ho is at
the bedside o/ one .ho- he lovesK ,h1 there yo0 have ang0ishK %0t s0dden catastrophes1
.hen they do occ0r1 occ0r -ostly on a relatively s-all scale# :hen the races near their ends1
the continents sin2 slo.ly# There are -0ch .orse things than -erely losing the physical
body1 /or those .hose destiny it is to be in a racial catastrophe# They .ill 2no. the bea0ti/0l
secrets o/ death# ,t the end o/ o0r race .e shall 2no. it /ar better than the ,tlanteans did#
%0t not one so perishes individ0ally1 0nless it is his personal 2ar-a# Ao. abo0t the tens o/
tho0sands .ho perish yearly in stea-er1 train1 a0to-obile1 -ine and vario0s other
accidents; ray re/lect#
hapter Twenty-$i&
The .icrocos(/ a .irror o# the .acrocos(. Ele(ents/ Principles/
.ani#estations o# the One +i#e. Relativity* a Funda(ental onception o#
the Ancient 4isdo(.
@7an1@ says Fan Ael-ont1 @is the -irror o/ the 0niverse1 and his triple nat0re stands in
relationship to all things#@? A# # %lavats2y10!i! 3n4eiled/ $1 213
# # # there is b0t one ele-ent # # # This ele-ent then is the ? to spea2 -etaphysically ? one
s0b'strat0- or per-anent ca0se o/ all -ani/estations in the pheno-enal 0niverse# The
ancients spea2 o/ the /ive cogniDable ele-ents o/ ether1 air1 .ater1 /ire1 earth1 and o/ the
one incogniDable ele-ent !to the 0ninitiates" the Cth principle o/ the 0niverse ? call it
0r0sh Sa2ti1 .hile to spea2 o/ the seventh o0tside the sanct0ary .as p0nishable .ith
death# %0t these /ive are b0t the di//erentiated aspects o/ the one# ,s -an is a seven'/old
being so is the 0niverse ? the septenary -icrocos- being to the septenary -acrocos-
b0t as the drop o/ rain.ater is to the clo0d /ro- .hence it dropped and .hither in the
co0rse o/ ti-e it .ill ret0rn# $n that one are e-braced or incl0ded so -any tendencies /or
the evol0tion o/ air1 .ater1 /ire1 etc# !/ro- the p0rely abstract do.n to their concrete
condition" and .hen those latter are called ele-ents it is to indicate their prod0ctive
potentialities /or n0-berless /or- changes or evol0tion o/ being# ? The Mahata
<etter!/ pp# 9)'1
9ET US 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 section
1C1 pages C3+'95
$n ancient sy-bolis- it .as al.ays the SU& !tho0gh the Spirit0al1 not the visible1 S0n
.as -eant"1 that .as s0pposed to send /orth the chie/ Savio0rs and ,vatars# Aence the
connecting lin2 bet.een the %0ddhas1 the ,vatars1 and so -any other incarnations o/ the
highest SEFE&# The closer the approach to one8s $rotot&%e1 @in Aeaven1@ the better /or
the -ortal .hose personality .as chosen1 by his o.n %er!onal deity !the seventh
principle"1 as its terrestrial abode# For1 .ith every e//ort o/ .ill to.ard p0ri/ication and 0nity
.ith that @Sel/'god1@ one o/ the lo.er rays brea2s and the spirit0al entity o/ -an is dra.n
higher and ever higher to the ray that s0persedes the /irst1 0ntil1 /ro- ray to ray1 the inner
-an is dra.n into the one and highest bea- o/ the arent'SU&#
That is a s0perb passage# $t contains in e-bryo the s0bstance o/ o0r st0dies /or so-e .ee2s
past# $t .ill be re-e-bered that .e have spo2en o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 the
spirit0al hierarchy /ro- .hich .e dra. o0r inner li/e1 spirit0al and -ental1 and .hose
s0pre-e chie/ is that :ondro0s %eing .ho1 in his spirit0al capacity1 is the dhyani'b0ddha o/
this /o0rth ro0nd# Ais h0-an representative is the chie/ o/ .hat .e call the Breat :hite
9odge1 he to .ho- the 7asters loo2 0p /or I0ic2ening and enlighten-ent1 he .ho lights their
/ires as they light and I0ic2en o0rs#
Ao. is this I0ic2ening and lighting done; Ao. .as it that the -anasap0tras .or2ed1 in their
incarnations in the hitherto senseless h0-anity1 to raise -an ? i/ .e can give to the h0-anity
o/ that ti-e that na-e ? /ro- spirit0ally and -entally senseless beings to sel/'conscio0s
h0-anhood;
9isten5 every one o/ the seven principles o/ -an1 as also every one o/ the seven ele-ents
!corresponding in the 2os-os to the seven principles in -an"1 is itsel/ a -irror o/ the
0niverse1 that is1 it contains in itsel/ everything that the bo0ndless ,ll contains# Everything is
in the -icrocos- that e3ists in the -acrocos-; the one1 the less1 -irrors the other1 the
greater# $n other .ords1 each o/ the ele-ents1 each o/ the principles1 each o/ the r0di-ents to
blosso- /orth later into divinity1 is itsel/ a septenary or seven/old entity1 e3isting on its o.n
septenary plane1 .hich to it is as palpably certain1 real1 and s0bstantial as this o0r physical
plane is to 0s as seen thro0gh o0r physical eyes and heard thro0gh o0r physical ears1 or
sensed by the -edia o/ the other senses1 t.o -ore o/ .hich1 by the .ay1 are still to be
developed#
&o. each one being a septenary1 each one o/ these principles or ele-ents is a copy in
-iniat0re1 i/ .e -ay 0se that .ord1 o/ the :hole# For instance1 the principle o/ -anas is
septenary# $t has its o.n at-an1 its b0ddhi1 and its -anas ? the -anas'-anas1 .hich is its
o.n partic0lar essence or s.abhava; ne3t1 its 2a-a or desire principle; then its vital essence;
then its gar-ent1 its linga'sarira1 or -odel'body1 so to say1 that .hich gives it its o.n
partic0lar shape and con/or-ation according to the I0alities o/ that plane; and /inally its
sth0la'sarira1 or lo.est portion or vehicle or carrier or bearer#
These -anasap0tras or sons o/ -ind1 children o/ -ahat1 are said to have I0ic2ened and
enlightened the -anas'-anas o/ the -anas'septenary1 beca0se they the-selves are
typically -anasic in their essential characteristic or s.abhava# Their o.n vibrations1 so to
say1 co0ld ca0se that essence o/ -anas in o0rselves to vibrate in sy-pathy1 -0ch as the
so0nding o/ a -0sical note .ill ca0se sy-pathetic response in so-ething li2e it1 a si-ilar
note in other things#
:ho are these -anasap0tras; They are o0rselves in a sense1 b0t .e are rather and -ore
partic0larly those .ho .ere I0ic2ened and enlivened# They are a -ystery; they are at once
o0r higher selves ? not o0r highest selves1 b0t o0r higher selves ? and yet di//erent# :e have
sho.n in past st0dies that /ro- the 4ne spring all the -ani/old di//erentiations o/ a 2os-ic !or
any other" hierarchy1 and that there is a per/ect 2inship or 0nity o/ being thro0gho0t# These
s0bli-e tho0ghts can be very clearly 0nderstood i/ .e a.a2en in o0rselves that portion o/ o0r
nat0re to .hich they are native and /a-iliar# :e can do it1 and it depends 0pon 0s to do it#
:hy is it that the 7asters choose1 /ro- ti-e to ti-e1 a certain one or certain ones1 and ta2e
hi- or the- to the-selves; %eca0se they see in those so selected the inner 7aster already
I0ic2ened1 enlivened1 at least to so-e e3tent# :o0ld they ta2e a beast; &o# :hy not;
%eca0se the beast is not I0ic2ened# :o0ld they ta2e an ordinary -an; &o# :hy; %eca0se
the -an is not I0ic2ened1 he is not a.a2ened1 he is not yet conscio0s in hi-sel/ o/ the inner
essential %0ddha1 the ,.a2ened 4ne# There is no I0estion o/ arbitrary choice abo0t this
/act# $t is a selection and an election o/ the /it and proper ones; it is there/ore >0st1 it is
there/ore right#
9et 0s p0rs0e this tho0ght a little -ore# 9et 0s ta2e nat0re and consider her ele-ents# &o.
this .ord eleent is /ro- the 9atin and it -eans one o/ the r0di-ents o/ things1 the .ord
@r0di-ent@ in its original sense# The San2hya especially1 one o/ the si3 accepted schools o/
philosophy o/ $ndia1 and also even the Fedanta ? perhaps the noblest o/ those schools ? both
spea2 o/ the si3 original @prod0cers@ or ele-ents o/ nat0re as pra2ritis1 the si3 pra2ritis
derived /ro- the pri-al ra2riti1 or root'ra2riti1 the /irst and highest# The San2hya also
spea2s o/ the-1 and so do -any st0dents o/ the Fedanta1 as the si3 tatt.as or real ele-ents#
&o. .hat is the di//erence bet.een the si3 ele-ents or pra2ritis1 and the si3 tatt.as; The
pra2riti is the vehic0lar or bearer' or carrier'side1 so to say1 the s0bstantial side1 and the
tatt.a is the analogic or /orce'side# ,nd these t.o /0nda-entally are one1 beca0se1 please
re-e-ber1 -atter and /orce1 spirit and s0bstance1 are both /0nda-entally one# 7atter can be
called crystalliDed spirit# :e have to h0nt /or .ords in any atte-pt to describe these things;
hence this is an inadeI0ate e3pression1 b0t it perhaps conveys the
-eaning# $ara6rahan and Mula%ra2riti ? @beyond'%rah-an@ and @root'nat0re@ ? o/ the
Fedanta and the San2hya1 represent the sa-e tho0ght1 and these t.o /0nda-entally are
one# Root'nat0re is the veil1 as it .ere1 o/ the pri-ordial energy1 the pri-ordial
conscio0sness; and these pra2ritis in the San2hya1 these si3 or seven pra2ritis1 stand /or the
si3 or seven ele-ents o/ nat0re1 corresponding to o0r h0-an seven or si3 principles# ,nd
these are born1 or iss0e rather1 one /ro- the other# That pra2riti .hich is the higher plane is
the parent o/ the pra2riti .hich is the lo.er plane# First1 the pri-ordial one gives birth to the
second5 at-an1 let 0s say1 gives birth to b0ddhi# ,nd at-an and b0ddhi co-bined give birth
to -anas1 iss0ing /ro- the t.o /or-er1 and containing the I0alities o/ the preceding t.o as
.ell as its o.n# ,nd at-an1 b0ddhi1 -anas then give birth to 2a-a1 the /o0rth in order; and
so on do.n to the seventh or lo.est#
Si-ilarly globe ,1 the /irst on the descending arc1 gives birth to globe %1 and globe % gives
birth to globe 6; b0t it does so .ith the s.abhavic tatt.a o/ globe , also .or2ing in it# ,nd
globe 6 gives birth to globe =1 o0r earth1 b0t .ith the tatt.as or intrinsic individ0alities or
s.abhavas o/ , and % in it also# Blobe = th0s has the tatt.as o/ globes ,1 %1 and 6 inherent
in it in addition to its o.n individ0al characteristic or s.abhava#
:hen the evol0tionary i-p0lse has reached its li-it in any one -anvantara ? and the li-its
vary in every -anvantara1 beca0se there is no absol0te point or position in space1 or any one
partic0lar plane .here every evol0tionary -anvantaric i-p0lse in the %o0ndless -0st stop1
/or so -any -onads1 so -any hierarchies have so -any respective evol0tionary i-p0lses
and their respective ends ? that is1 .hen that o0tr0shing i-p0lse that co-es /ro- above1
carrying these pra2ritis and principles do.n into greater -ani/estation o/ -atter1 has reached
the li-it possible /or that partic0lar -anvantara1 it then t0rns1 as it .ere1 aro0nd the goal and
begins the reascent#
:e in o0r planetary chain have passed that goal or t0rning point o" the round!+ F0rther-ore1
in each o/ the races on any globe o/ the chain; in each o/ the globes d0ring any ro0nd; and
/or each o/ the ro0nds passing thro0gh all the seven globes; there is a -idpoint in its
respective evol0tionary co0rse1 and that -idpoint is its respective goal or t0rning point1 .here
the respective cycle begins a reascent# Aence1 there .ill then be a s0dden rising o/ the
evolving -onads or entities; and1 correspondentially1 senses hitherto latent and 0ndeveloped
.ill be developed1 and the principles in nat0re .hich .e now do not cogniDe .ill then be
cogniDed and 2no.n# Ether1 /or instance1 o/ .hich .e have a -ere presenti-ent today at the
-iddle point o/ o0r /i/th race in the /o0rth ro0nd1 recogniDed even by science1 .ill d0ring the
/i/th round beco-e an act0ality in .hat .ill then be the at-osphere1 as palpable and plain to
the senses as air is today to 0s#
So1 then1 .hen spea2ing o/ the ele-ents or the pra2ritis1 .e do not -ean that the earth and
.ater and air and /ire spo2en o/ by the ancients as ele-ents1 are the real ele-ental pra2ritis
o/ nat0re# That is abs0rd# The ancients 0sed those .ords sy-bolically# These /o0r !or /ive
things1 incl0ding ether" are -erely -ani/estations ? /o0r o/ the- so /ar developed ? o/ /o0r or
/ive o0t o/ the seven s0bpra2ritis or s0bprinciples belonging to the lo.est pra2ritic ele-ent as
-ani/est at this stage on o0r /o0rth globe1 corresponding to the seventh or lo.est 2os-ic
plane or pra2riti#
,s each principle is itsel/ a s0bseptenary and -irrors the %o0ndless1 so does each ele-ent
-irror all the other ele-ents; and /ro- each ele-ent can be dra.n the li/e and nat0re and
characteristic1 in -inor degree1 o/ co0rse1 o/ all the other si3# The above'na-ed I0alities o/
the -atter o/ the seventh or lo.est pra2riti o/ o0r globe1 that is to say1 !olidit&/ "luidit&/
air!there see-s to be no corresponding ad>ective in English /or air1 or /or the /ollo.ing
one"1 "ire1 are -erely the correspondences o/ the si-ilar s0bpra2ritis o/ the /o0r 2os-ic
ele-ents or pra2ritis in .hich o0r planetary chain e3ists no.# Ether as an ele-ent .ill co-e
ne3t; and in the si3th ro0nd .ill be developed the si3th ele-ent; and d0ring the seventh
ro0nd .ill be developed the seventh# &one o/ the ancient philosophers o/ the 7editerranean
co0ntries1 .hen spea2ing o/ earth1 .ater1 air1 /ire1 ether1 nor the Aind0s1 .hen spea2ing1 /or
instance1 o/ a2asa or o/ adi'tatt.a1 -eant the -aterial things .hich .e can sense1 s0ch as
earth and .ater# They -eant the root'ele-ents o/ nat0re1 o/ .hich these /o0r or /ive things
that .e sense are1 as it .ere1 present-ents or sy-bols#
The Bree2s called the ele-ents !toicheia/ a pl0ral di-in0tive o/ the .ord!toicho! -eaning a
@series1@ in other .ords1 a hierarchy# The sing0lar!toicheion .o0ld be an entity o/ a hierarchy1
a part o/ it1 one o/ the co-posite parts o/ the hierarchy1 altho0gh -odern scholars can trace
no ostensible reason /or giving this na-e to .hat they recogniDe as being the ancient
conception o/ the ele-ents o/ nat0re# %0t o0r philosophy sho.s .hy1 and e3plains that the
stoicheia are the seven pra2ritis o/ the 2os-os# Each o/ the globes o/ o0r planetary chain is
an i-bodi-ent o/ all these ele-ents or seven pra2ritis1 b0t in the -anner o0tlined above1 o/
each ele-ent containing in %ar4o all the others# 40r earth1 /or instance1 is an i-bodi-ent or
representation o/ the lo.est pra2riti1 b0t there is .ater and there is air and there is /ire1 and
.e 2no. that there is ether in develop-ent# :e 2no. /o0r and recogniDe /ive1 an
e3e-pli/ication o/ .hat has >0st been said# &evertheless1 the seven globes o/ o0r planetary
chain are not the respective correspondences o/ the seven 2os-ic ele-ents# This .o0ld be a
/alse analogy#
Each one o/ the grades o/ initiation1 o/ .hich .e have spo2en be/ore1 corresponds to one o/
these seven 2os-ic ele-ents; and the trials thro0gh .hich the initiant or candidate -0st
pass1 in order to prove his capacity1 are reg0lated and governed by the nat0re o/ each one
respectively o/ the seven pra2ritis# There are1 as a -atter o/ /act1 ten grades or degrees o/
initiation and ten 2os-ic pra2ritis ? seven in -ani/estation1 and three root'pra2ritis or the
highest; b0t the 0pper-ost three are so /ar beyond o0r 0t-ost capacity o/ 0nderstanding no.
that .e can do no -ore than -ention the /act# ,l.ays ten5 three ar0pa or /or-less !to 0s1
please 0nderstand" and seven in -ani/estation; and o/ these seven the 0pper triad is1
relatively spea2ing1 also ar0pa#
9et 0s here point o0t so-ething very i-portant ? that is1 that all the teaching o/ the ancient
.isdo- is given /ro- o0r plane1 so that .hen .e say aru%a or @/or-less1@ it does not -ean
that in the-selves1 an !ich/ per se1 these higher planes or entities are /or-less1 .hich .o0ld
be abs0rd# %0t to 0s they are /or-less1 e3actly as ether is /or-less1 beca0se it is not yet !/or
0s" developed# :e have as yet b0t a -ere presenti-ent o/ it in this /o0rth ro0nd1 and only
beca0se .e are in the /i/th root'race1 corresponding in ele-ent to that /i/th ele-ent1 ether#
,nd as a corollary to that1 and it is an i-portant ded0ction1 as regards the beings inhabiting
each ele-ent1 each principle1 o/ the 0niversal 2os-os5 their habitations1 their co0ntries1 all
that therein e3ists1 to the- are as real and palpable as are palpable and -aterial things on
o0r plane to 0s# Force1 to 0s1 is s0bstance in -otion# =o yo0 realiDe that o0r -ost dense and
rigid -atter is /orce to beings in the hierarchy belo. 0s; =o .e realiDe that .hat .e call the
density and the rigidity o/ -atter are -erely s0ch to our senses1 and that this very density
and this rigidity sho. and prove that o0r dense and rigid -atter is b0t a balancing o/
opposing /orces; :hy1 -any -odern scientists today1 -a2ing a right'abo0t'/ace /ro- .hat
.as 0tter tr0th to science so-e /i/ty years ago1 no. say that there is no s0ch thing as -atter
per se1 that there is nothing b0t /orce# 7atter is there/ore to it a -aya1 an ill0sion1 and so it is#
%0t so is /orce a -aya1 beca0se it is -erely -atter to so-ething higher than it# )ll thing! are
relati4e/ a state-ent .hich is one o/ the /0nda-ental conceptions o/ the ancient .isdo-#
So .hen .e spea2 o/ these vario0s pra2ritis and principles1 let 0s recogniDe /irst that these
ele-ents1 these tatt.as or principles1 /ro- .hatever vie.point .e -ay loo2 at the-1 are all
-ani/estations o/ the one 0niversal li/e1 .hich is li2e.ise 0niversal s0bstance in its lo.er
aspect# Spirit and s0bstance1 /orce and -atter are /0nda-entally one1 t.o sides to the sa-e
thing#
This1 that is so i-portant1 .e /ain .o0ld d.ell 0pon -0ch longer and give ill0strations o/ its
application to o0r st0dies# 9et 0s -a2e a /inal application tonight# :hat is the di//erence
bet.een a 7aster1 and -e and yo0; The /or-er has his higher principles a.a2ened and
lives in the-# ,nd .e do not# Fro- the scienti/ic standpoint1 that is all there is to it; /ro- the
philosophic standpoint1 .e -ay say that a 7aster has beco-e as /ar as he can be1 -ore at
one .ith the 0niversal li/e; and /ro- the religio0s standpoint or the spirit0al standpoint1 .e
-ay say that a 7aster has developed an indi4idual con!ciou!ne!!1 or recognition/ o/ his
oneness .ith the %o0ndless# This is the very /o0ndation o/ the ethics .itho0t .hich there is
nothing .orthy o/ the ancient .isdo-# &o -an can -iscond0ct hi-sel/ .itho0t in>ecting
inhar-ony1 dishar-ony1 into the h0-an hierarchy o/ .hich he is a part1 and /or this he shall
pay to the 0tter-ost /arthing# %0t this is no vengeance1 no p0nish-ent1 by nat0re1 .hich
-erely read>0sts the dist0rbed eI0ilibri0- or dishar-ony# $t arose o0t o/ the e3ercise o/ /ree
.ill# ,nd the 7asters have learned to govern their .ills and to cooperate .ith nat0re as a
.hole; thence they gro. in strength o/ so0l1 and live in 0nity .ith the divine# That is the
di//erence bet.een the- and 0s5 they live at one .ith the spirit0al s0--it o/ o0r hierarchy#
:e can do the sa-e# $t is si-ply a -atter o/ opening o0r inner eyes1 o/ cleansing o0r so0ls1
o/ clearing o0t /ro- o0r brains the trash .hich .e eat -entally1 the h0s2s .hich the @s.ine
/eed 0pon1@ and letting in the p0re1 clear li/e1 the @.ine o/ li/e#@
$t is only the -olds o/ -ind that i-pede 0s1 nothing b0t the -olds o/ -ind; and .hen .e say
the -olds o/ -ind .e do not e3actly -ean the -olds o/ s0b-ental -atter in .hich the -ind
.or2s# That is1 $ thin21 a .rong .ay to p0t it# :e -ean the crystalliDation o/ the -ind itsel/1
.hen -ental /orce beco-es -ental -atter# There/ore brea2 these -olds; no one can do it
/or yo0 b0t yo0rsel/# The -olds o/ -an8s -ind are his greatest ene-y1 his .orst /oe1 his
strongest opponent1 beca0se these -olds are living s0bstance# No0r -ind is -atter1 b0t it is
living -atter; and every tho0ght yo0 thin2 clings to the -ind and inheres in it1 and beco-es
.hat the ancient .isdo- calls an ele-ental1 and it .ill /inally t0rn and tort0re yo0 0nless yo0
brea2 yo0r -ental -olds# :hat -an .o0ld do other.ise1 .hen there are /reedo- and light
and .isdo- and peace and glory and 2no.ledge 0nspea2able /or the having1 /or the ta2ing1
providing that .e do indeed ta2e the 2ingdo- o/ heaven by violenceK
hapter Twenty-$even
The T.o F0nda-ental <os-ical Aierarchies5 7atter and Spirit'6onscio0sness#
6haos'Theos'<os-os5 Bods'7onads',to-s#
There are1 ass0redly1 t.o /or-s o/ %rah-a5 the /or-ed and the /or-less# &o.1 that .hich
is the /or-ed is 0nreal; that .hich is the /or-less is real1 is %rah-a1 is light#
That light is the sa-e as the s0n Lthe spirit0al s0n1 not o0r visible s0n .hich is only a
re/lection1 a veil1 a /or-M#
Ferily1 that ca-e to have - as its so0l !atan"# Ae divided hi-sel/ !atana"
three/old# - is three prosodial 0nits !aQuQ"# %y -eans o/ these @the .hole .orld is
.oven1 .arp and .oo/1 across Ai-#@ ? Maitri13%ani!had/ C1 3 !A0-e1 trans#"
,n e30berance o/ po.er is al.ays present .ith the highest ca0ses1 and at the sa-e ti-e
that this po.er transcends all things1 it is eI0ally present .ith all .ith 0ni-peded energy#
Aence1 con/or-ably to this1 the /irst ill0-inate the last o/ things1 and i--aterial are
present .ith -aterial nat0res i--aterially# &or sho0ld it be considered by any one as
.onder/0l1 i/ .e say that there is a certain p0re and divine -atter# For -atter being
generated by the /ather and de-i0rg0s o/ .holes1 receives a per/ection adapted to itsel/1
in order to its beco-ing the receptacle o/ the Bods# ,t the sa-e ti-e nothing prevents
-ore e3cellent beings /ro- being able to i-part their light to s0bordinate nat0res# &either1
there/ore1 is -atter separated /ro- the participation o/ better ca0ses; so that s0ch -atter
as is per/ect1 p0re1 and boni/or-1 is not 0nadapted to the reception o/ the Bods# For1
since it is reI0isite that terrestrial nat0res sho0ld by no -eans be destit0te o/ divine
co--0nion1 the earth also receives a certain divine portion /ro- it1 s0//icient /or the
participation o/ the Bods# ? $a-blich0s1-n the M&!terie!/ pp# 2C('C !Tho-as Taylor1
trans#"
$T $S &E,R9N /i/ty years since A# # %lavats2y bro0ght theosophy to 0s ? nearly hal/ a
cent0ry has passed1 and those o/ 0s .ho have had the opport0nity o/ st0dying it d0ring that
period1 or at least d0ring part o/ it1 realiDe the great changes that have ta2en place in the
tho0ght o/ the .orld1 changes s0ch that .e can only ascribe the- to the spirit0al i-p0lses
given to the .orld by A# # %lavats2y1 and those behind her#
,t the close o/ o0r st0dy this evening .e shall point to a n0-ber o/ /acts1 sho.ing ho. this
great theosophist1 penetrating the secrets o/ the ancient .isdo-1 /oreshado.ed1 prophesied1
i/ yo0 li2e1 so-e o/ the greatest o/ the scienti/ic discoveries1 so called1 that have been -ade
d0ring these last /i/ty years#
These are real revol0tions in tho0ght1 and it is only >0st that .e sho0ld place the -erit .here
the -erit is d0e1 /or there is no other ca0se o/ s0ch revol0tions ? .hich are not -erely still
ta2ing place1 b0t .hich have hardly yet reached their -a3i-0- ? than the .or2 done by A#
# %lavats2y1 and the spirit0al i-p0lse .hich she bro0ght into the .orld at that ti-e#
:e open o0r st0dy this evening by reading once again the latter part o/ .hat .e read at o0r
last st0dy /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 pages C3+'91 as /ollo.s5
The closer the approach to one8s $rotot&%e/ @in Aeaven1@ the better /or the -ortal .hose
personality .as chosen1 by his o.n%er!onal deity !the seventh principle"1 as its terrestrial
abode# For1 .ith every e//ort o/ .ill to.ard p0ri/ication and 0nity .ith that @Sel/'god1@ one
o/ the lo.er rays brea2s and the spirit0al entity o/ -an is dra.n higher and ever higher to
the ray that s0persedes the /irst1 0ntil1 /ro- ray to ray1 the inner -an is dra.n into the one
and highest bea- o/ the arent'SU&#
T.o /0nda-ental lines o/ tho0ght1 .e tr0st1 have been bro0ght o0t in o0r st0dies .ith at least
s0//icient clearness /or present p0rposes# Those lines are respectively the e3position o/ the
night'side1 the -atter'side1 the vehic0lar side1 o/ nat0re; and secondly1 o/ the light'side1 the
spirit0al side1 the divine side1 o/ nat0re1 the latter also being in o0r syste- called the
Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# The /or-er hierarchy .hich pervades and really i! the space1 the
-atter'space1 or the space'-atter1 in .hich the second hierarchy .or2s1 is co-posed o/ the
hierarchy o/ the b0ilders1 the -asons o/ the .orld1 the 2os-o2ratores or .orld -a2ers o/
-ystic Bree2 philosophy# They are the in/erior hierarchy spirit0ally1 b0t have relative
do-inion over their s0bhierarchies /ro- their beginning do.n to their lo.est plane1 .hich
/or-s the -ere ele-ental or nat0re /orces on the lo.est plane o/ their 2os-ic hierarchy#
S0ch .ords as eleental orlowe!t are -ere ad>ectives describing psychological -ysteries#
,s hinted1 the seven grades o/ the- r0n 0p to the lo.est o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1
/or-ing the divine side# There is no brea2 bet.een the-; act0ally1 they interblend and
interpenetrate each other# ,s the spirit .or2s in the so0l o/ -an1 and the so0l o/ -an .or2s in
his lo.er vehicle1 so does the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion .or2 in and thro0gh the hierarchy o/
the b0ilders#
This tho0ght is so i-portant /or the 0nderstanding o/ the ancient .isdo- that .e call
attention to it again and again1 beca0se it provides the philosophical and scienti/ic /ra-e.or21
the str0ct0ral carpentry1 not -erely o/ the 0niverse1 b0t o/ -an8s o.n conscio0sness1 and is
the gro0nd.or2 against .hich .e -0st place the pict0re o/ .hat ta2es place in the processes
o/ 2os-ic evol0tion and in that o/ -an1 as o0tlined in the ancient initiations and 7ystery
Schools#
$t .as said at a /or-er -eeting that -an is spirit0ally higher than the s0n# So he is; b0t it .as
not said which -an ? p0rposely not said # The s0n is the vital loc0s o/ his syste-1 and so
terri/ic are the /orces o/ that sa-e in.ardly divine entity1 even on o0r plane1 that .ere one o/
0s1 a -an1 to approach .ithin the range o/ those /orces he .o0ld be si-ply annihilated1 not
-erely bro2en 0p and dispersed as the physical body is at death1 b0t red0ced to nothing1
.iped o0t# :hy; %eca0se the /irst /ive !co0nting 0p.ards"1 i#e#1 the /ive lo.er principles o/ his
psychological econo-y1 .o0ld be dissipated into their co-ponent ato-s1 each to each on its
o.n plane1 and dra.n1 s0c2ed1 into the stellar body1 and only his higher part1 the divine part1
the spirit0al part1 belonging to the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 the 6hrist part1 the %0ddha part1
.o0ld re-ain intact# :hy; %eca0se the latter part itsel/ is o/ the sa-e s0bstance as the hid
s0n1 o/ .hich o0r physical s0n is -erely the re/lection or the -ani/estation on this plane o/
the divine being behind it# 6onseI0ently1 .hen .e said that -an is greater than the s0n1 .e
-eant that his progress along the path o/ evol0tion has proceeded /arther than that entity
!considered as a re/lection" .hich is the s0n# Ae 0ndo0btedly is /arther along the path o/
evol0tion than is his solar loc0s ? a parado31 indeed1 b0t tr0eK $t .as the entry into the
senseless @shado.s@ o/ his being1 i#e#1 the /o0r lo.est o/ his seven principles1 by the -anas
principle1 in/erior to the t.o highest1 d0ring the -iddle o/ the third root'race in this /o0rth
ro0nd1 that -ade o/ hi- the being that he no. is1 sel/'conscio0s; and thereby he beca-e
literally an incarnation o/ the divine#
$t no. re-ains .ith hi- to bring into activity those inner /orces1 his higher principles1 .hich
/or- his inner spirit0al nat0re1 and .hich are not indeed inert1 b0t only sleeping1 as it .ere#
:e spea2 o/ the higher principles as @sleeping@ in a -an1 a /or- o/ speech .hich is perhaps
correct as a -anner o/ e3pression1 b0t really it is the lo.er ones .hich are asleep spirit0ally
and need a.a2ening# The very root 6udh/ /ro- .hich .e
have6uddhi/ and 6uddha/ and 6udha .ith one d1 -eans @to a.a2en1@ hence derivatively @to
enlighten#@ 40r higher principles are act0al entities living on their o.n planes1 individ0al
beings1 /0lly conscio0s and thin2ing entities# Fi3 that tho0ght /ir-ly in yo0r -inds1 i/ yo0
please# 40r higher parts are not inchoate1 0ncoordinated1 0ndeveloped1 sleeping things#
They are a 0nity o/ entities1 a spirit0al 2os-os in -iniat0re#
The great a.a2ening o/ the lo.er ele-ents in third'race -an that .as acco-plished by the
incarnation o/ these -anasap0tras .as repeated1 partly dra-atically and partly act0ally1 in
the ancient 7ysteries and in the initiations1 .hich .ere th0s a copying o/ .hat still ta2es
place in nat0re1 and too2 place in nat0re pree-inently d0ring the third root'race# ,nd by
those initiations the atte-pt .as still /0rther to sti-0late1 still -ore to a.a2en1 still -ore
greatly to enliven and bring /orth that inner and higher nat0re o/ -an# That great p0rpose
/or-ed the core1 the heart1 and the -eaning1 o/ the ancient initiations#
Net1 please -ar21 initiation and M&!ter& do not -ean the sa-e thing e3actly# Tho0gh very
closely si-ilar in p0rpose and r0nning on parallel lines1 o/ the t.o1 initiation -eant teaching1
a.a2ening1 opening the -ind; the M&!terie! .ere the dra-atiDed /or-s o/ .hat too2 place in
the higher degrees# There .ere three dra-atiDations1 training and ed0cating the neophyte /or
.hat he -0st be1 and go thro0gh1 in the /o0r higher degrees# Ae .as directed and helped in
those higher degrees as /ar as .as -ade per-issible by his 2ar-a; b0t the very heart and
essence o/ the trial .as ate!t/ and he had to /ace it alone1 and hi-sel/ to prove his spirit'
po.er1 to prove the so0l'nat0re o/ hi-# $/ he ca-e thro0gh the /irst trial tri0-phant1 he .as
granted the privilege1 and he had the inner strength1 to 0nderta2e the higher degrees# There
co0ld1 0nder s0ch conditions1 be no /0ll protection1 no -ollycoddling# E0st the contrary o/ that
too2 place# Ais teacher .atched over his senseless body .hile his inner nat0re .as o0t
e3ploring the real-s o/ space1 yea1 entering into the s0n1 entering into the planets1 and into
the -oon1 and into other things and beings1 6ecoing/ lo!ing hi! !el" and 6ecoing/ that
.hich he had to /ace and conI0er1 or /ail# Blorio0s .ere the privileges o/ victory; and at the
end1 at the seventh trial1 i/ and .hen the /inal tri0-ph ca-e1 he rose a glori/ied %0ddha1 a
glori/ied 6hrist1 tr0ly a -aster o/ -en# Then he 2new1 beca0se he had6een# This .as no
-ere sens0al e3perience1 sens0al in the sense o/ being an e3perience o/ the senses ?
hearing1 seeing1 to0ching1 /eeling1 s-elling1 tasting ? b0t it .as 6eing the things and beings
o/ .hich he had been ta0ght1 i#e#1 co-plete 2no.ledge o/ li/e in this hierarchy#
S0ch .as the -eaning o/ the higher initiation1 o/ those higher degrees .hich .ent beyond
the scope and -eaning o/ the 7ysteries1 .hich latter .ere the dra-atiDations o/ the
processes o/ 2os-ical li/e1 the preparation /or .hatever it .as that the candidate had to /ace
in the /o0r higher initiatory degrees#
$n order to -a2e the -atter -ore clear1 let 0s .rite do.n a sy-bolic o0tline o/ the t.o lines
o/ gro.th or develop-ent o/ the t.o /0nda-ental 2os-ical hierarchies#
4n the le/t or -atter'side5
6A,4S
TAE4S
<4S74S
4n the right or divine side1 the light'side5
B4=S
74&,=S
,T47S
corresponding each to each; and psychologically1 so /ar as -an is concerned1 !1" the divine;
!2" the spirit0al or h0-an; and !3" 2os-ic'astral#
*hao! is a Bree2 .ord1 and is 0s0ally tho0ght to -ean a sort o/ helter's2elter treas0ry o/
original principles and seeds o/ beings# :ell1 so it verily is1 in one pro/o0nd sense; only it is
-ost decidedly and e-phatically not helter's2elter# $t is the 2os-ic storeho0se o/ all the
latent or resting seeds o/ beings and things /ro- /or-er -anvantaras# 4/ co0rse it is this1
si-ply beca0se it contains everything# $t -eans space1 not the highest space1 not the
arabrah-an'70lapra2riti1 the %o0ndless ? not that; b0t the space o/ any partic0lar hierarchy
descending into -ani/estation1 i#e#1 .hat space /or it is at that partic0lar period o/ its
beginning o/ develop-ent# Re-e-ber the principle o/ relativity# There are no 0tter absol0tes
any.here and never have been and never .ill be# The directive principles in 6haos are the
Bods o/ the corresponding col0-n#
Theo! is a Bree2 .ord -eaning @god#@ 6orresponding to it are the 7onads#
Ko!o! is a Bree2 .ord -eaning @arrange-ent#@ <os-os .as also 0sed /or a .o-an8s
paraphernalia1 decoration1 and all that 2ind o/ thing5 cos-etics and robes and >e.elry# $t
-eant that .hich .as arranged and 2ept along the lines and r0les o/ har-ony ? the
arrange-ent o/ the 0niverse; and corresponding to it in the other col0-n are the ,to-s# &ote
the three correspondences5 6haos1 Bods or divine beings1 the 2os-ic architects; then Theos1
/or the b0ilders1 the 2os-o2ratores1 corresponding to the 7onads1 the spirit'beings; then
<os-os1 the 0niverse1 arranged as .e see it; and the ,to-s1 or vital'astral seeds1 on the
divine side#
:e do not spea2 here o/ che-ical ato-s1 please 0nderstand# These belong to the <os-os#
,s 0sed in this o0tline1 Bods1 7onads1 and ,to-s1 .e -ean !1" the divine; !2" the spirit0al'
h0-an; and !3" those 0lti-ate particles o/ s0bstance .hich in/la-e1 .hich inspire1 .hich
vitaliDe1 the -aterial 2os-os# Each to each5 the Bods .or2 in the 6haos; the 7onads .or2 in
and thro0gh the Theos1 the theoi1 the b0ilders; and the ,to-s1 as the se-iconscio0s1
0lti-ate entities o/ -atter1 .or2 thro0gh the <os-os or the -ani/ested 0niverse1 as prepared
according to .hat is pop0larly called nat0ral la.1 i#e#1 the essential and inherent operations o/
nat0re1 deriving /ro- the Bods and 7onads#
S0ch an ato-1 according to these parallel col0-ns !.hich are A# # %lavats2y8s1 o/ co0rse"1
signi/ies the 0lti-ate particle o/ -atter1 .hich 0lti-ate particle is -atter8s seventh principle1 its
highest principle; and /or that reason the s0n is called an ato-1 beca0se it is the seventh or
highest degree o/ -atter or pra2riti on thi! %lane+ ra2riti -eans nat0re or the developing
po.er1 that .hich has bro0ght /orth -ani/estation# There are seven 2os-ical pra2ritis1 and
.e are in the /irst or lo.est; the seventh as yo0 co0nt do.n.ards1 the /irst i/ yo0 co0nt
0p.ards# Each o/ these again has seven s0bplanes# The s0n as an entity is the highest entity
o/ the 2os-ical syste-1 the solar syste-# %0t .hat .e see is -erely its vehicle1 its seventh or
lo.est or -aterial ele-ent or principle1 co0nting do.n.ards# The so'called solar /la-es are
not /la-es# The s0n is not b0rning; it is not in co-b0stion; it is not hot; .hat .e see is the
a0ra o/ the S0n1 the si3th s0bele-ent or s0bprinciple o/ the /irst or lo.est pra2riti# That a0ra
there/ore is the s0n8s -aterial b0ddhic a0ra1 and loo2ed at /ro- the scienti/ic standpoint it is a
globe o/ 2os-ic /orces# lease re-e-ber1 as so o/ten said be/ore1 that /orce and -atter
/0nda-entally are the sa-e; they are si-ply di//erent degrees o/ -ani/estation o/ spirit'
s0bstance# 7atter is crystalliDed /orce; or1 i/ yo0 li2e1 tho0gh it is not so good a -ethod o/
describing it1 spirit or /orce or energy is etherealiDed -atter# 70ch better is it to p0t it the
other .ay#
7atter on o0r plane is crystalliDed light# 9ight is s0bstance'energy or energy's0bstance1
either .ill do# 6all it /orce# ,nd light1 this /orce1 again is the -atter o/ so-ething still higher
than it1 the pra2riti above it#
&o. o0r ti-e has nearly e3pired1 and .e .ish to call attention to .hat .as spo2en o/ at the
beginning o/ o0r st0dy this evening1 certain very i-portant and /0nda-ental principles o/
tho0ght .hich the scientists call discoveries o/ o0r era -ade by the- !or at least in the
-a2ing by the-"1 b0t .hich .ere anticipated in ti-e by -e-bers o/ this School /ro- the
st0dy o/ theosophical doctrines# lease 0nderstand that .e loo2 0pon science1 ordered and
coordinated 2no.ledge1 as the greatest /riend and ally .e have# %0t .hen it co-es to the
theories or spec0lations or dog-as o/ scienti/ic -en1 .e accept the- or re>ect the- e3actly
in proportion as .e thin2 that they contain or do not contain tr0th ? not & tr0th or &ourtr0th1
b0t as they contain !or do not contain" those /0nda-ental principles .hich1 by their
coherency and consistency and appeal to the best in 0s1 anno0nce the-selves as /acts o/
being#
Theosophy1 indeed1 has changed the .orld8s tho0ght# ractice .itho0t theory is e-ptiness o/
-ind; theory .itho0t practice is /olly# , -an .ho has a bea0ti/0l theory1 and does no act to
carry it into operation or /act1 is a drone1 /or he .as not born to be a sloth; b0t on the
contrary1 a -an .ho has no theory1 .hose ideas are not coordinated and directed by
principles1 is a -ad-an1 and acts li2e a /ool# The noblest thing that .e can do is so to
change the tho0ght o/ the .orld that -en .ill realiDe their oneness .ith the inner beings on
the vario0s planes o/ li/e 0niversal1 and govern the-selves accordingly1 not -erely in the
legislat0res1 b0t in their teachings and in their personal cond0ct o/ li/e1 and in their care /or
their brothers1 and in their sense o/ loyalty and /idelity to their teachers1 those .ho- they
2no. and believe to have that tr0th#
:e have dra.n 0p a list o/ a /e. s0ch anticipations1 and do0btless any one o/ yo0 co0ld
have e3tended the list to thrice or /o0r ti-es its length# Aere they are5
1# That si-ple -aterialis-1 co-prising /ort0ity1 chance1 and dead -atter1 prod0cing li/e and
conscio0sness1 as an e3planation o/ li/e and being1 is 0nscienti/ic1 0nphilosophical1 and
i-possible1 beca0se contrary to nat0re and reason; there/ore abs0rd#
2. That other planets are inhabited by intelligent beings1 or are not so1 as the case -ay be;
and that this is denied not /ro- 2no.ledge1 b0t /ro- ignorance only1 o/ s0ch planets; the only
planet that .e do 2no.1 o0r earth1 bearing intelligent beings# The denial there/ore is irrational1
p0rely spec0lative and theoretical1 and based solely on s0pposedly tr0e /acts concerning
at-osphere1 cold or heat1 etc#1 as these are 2no.n on o0r planet onl&#
3# The 0nreal nat0re o/ the physical 0niverse1 or sphere1 i#e#1 that all .e see and 2no. .ith
sensational perceptions is its p0rely pheno-enal appearances#
*# That /orce is etherealiDed -atter; or1 pre/erably1 that -atter is eI0ilibrated or crystalliDed
/orces#
!These last t.o have no. been /0lly ad-itted by e3oteric scientists#"
(# That electricity and -agnetis- are partic0lar1 i#e#1 corp0sc0lar5 /or-ed o/ particles or
corp0scles1 and there/ore -atter# They are the pheno-enal e//ects o/ no0-enal ca0ses ?
-atter or rather -atters#
C# That the so'called -odes o/ -otion1 .hen A# # %lavats2y /irst bro0ght her -essage to
the .orld1 i#e#1 /orces1 o/ .hilo- scientists1 as a de/inition o/ /orces1 is a childish e//ort to
e3plain /orces by tic2eting the- in a ne. -anner .hich e3plains nothing at all1 all /orces
being si-ply -oving -atters#
7. That all -atter is radiant1 i#e#1 radioactive1 that is1 it radiate!; so-e /or-s or states o/
-atter -ore than others# 6o-pare the .or2 and discoveries o/ %ecI0erel1 Rontgen1 the
60ries1 R0ther/ord1 and Soddy1 etc#1 and the .or2 on si-ilar lines o/ great thin2ers in other
co0ntries#
+# That light is corp0sc0lar1 beca0se a -atter1 or s0bstance; that is1 light is a -aterial
radiance1 in /act#
9# That trans-0tation o/ -atters1 hence o/ -etals1 is a /act in nat0re1 occ0rring ho0rly1
-o-ently1 instantly1 and contin0o0sly thro0gh ti-e#
10. That the ato- is a divisible body ? i#e#1 the cheical or %h&!icalato-; it is1 so to say1
-erely a s-aller -olec0le#
!&0-bers C1 71 +1 91 and 1) have all been ad-itted by science1 or practically ad-itted; in
so-e cases in /0ll1 in other cases verging on /0ll ad-ission#"
11# That the physical ato- is a tiny solar syste-1 each -e-ber o/ s0ch a syste- being in its
o.n t0rn co-po0nded o/ physical in/initesi-als1 or o/ s0bato-s1 or o/ in/ra'ato-s#
12# That the neb0lar hypothesis as co--only accepted .as inco-plete1 ins0//icient1 as a
.or2able hypothesis1 altho0gh containing certain ele-ents o/ nat0ral1 that is1 o/ occ0lt1 tr0th#
13. That the s0n is neither b0rning1 nor even hot1 tho0gh it is glowing in one sense1
s0per/icially1 i#e#1 on its @s0r/ace@; nor does it rec0perate its heat and other /orces1 as alleged1
by shrin2age o/ vol0-e; nor does radi0- acco0nt /or its e3pendit0re o/ energy1 is practically
ad-itted#
1*# That stor-s ? rain1 hail1 sno.1 .ind ? and dro0ghts1 li2e.ise -ost o/ the earth8s heat1 are
not ca0sed by or derived /ro- solar energy1 b0t res0lt /ro- electro-agnetic interplay o/
/orces bet.een the earth8s -ass and the -eteoric -ass1 or @veil1@ above o0r at-osphere;
s0ch pheno-ena or e//ects being acco-panied1 partly ca0sally1 partly e//ect0ally1 by periodic
e3pansion or dilatation o/ the at-ospheric body and by periodic contraction thereo/; and that
the glacial periods1 so called1 are largely d0e to the sa-e ca0ses#
!, /e. -onths ago1 let -e interpolate1 so-e e-inent scientists in the northern part o/
6ali/ornia .ere investigating the 0pper regions o/ the at-osphere1 and to a certain e3tent
they have co-e to this concl0sion1 at least in part and in degree#"
15. That =ar.inis- and Aaec2elis- are inadeI0ate to e3plain and acco0nt /or the -ass o/
biological pheno-ena; and neither =ar.in8s nat0ral selection nor Spencer8s s0rvival o/ the
/ittest1 is other than a -inor or secondary operation o/ nat0re; that trans/or-is- as ta0ght by
the -odern spec0lative scientist is not evol0tion ? .hich is .hat the ancient
.isdo- doe! teach ? and is both 0ncertain as a theory beca0se p0rely spec0lative1 and
0nscienti/ic beca0se as a theory it is based on data too /e.; there/ore it is inco-plete and
ins0//icient#
!:e all 2no. .hat re-ar2able changes have ta2en place in the theories o/ the trans/or-ists
even since A# # %lavats2y died#"
16. ,nd lastly1 that all things and operations in the 2os-os are relative1 not absol0te1 in
nat0re1 there being no absol0tes e3cept in the sense o/ relativity o/ relationships; o0r
teachings th0s anticipating the "undaentalconcept o/ =r# ,lbert Einstein on this point#
,t o0r ne3t -eeting1 .e shall ta2e 0p the st0dy o/ the ato-#
hapter Twenty-Ei)ht
The ,dvent0re o/ an ,to-# 9aya'6enters5 S0n1 6o-ets1 and lanets; So0l and
7onad# The <eynote o/ 4cc0ltis-#
The 4cc0lt Science is not one1 in .hich secrets can be co--0nicated o/ a s0dden1 by a
.ritten or even verbal co--0nication# $/ so1 all the @%rothers@ sho0ld have to do1 .o0ld be
to p0blish a .and16oo2 o/ the art .hich -ight be ta0ght in schools as gra--ar is# $t is the
co--on -ista2e o/ people that .e .illingly .rap o0rselves and o0r po.ers in -ystery ?
that .e .ish to 2eep o0r 2no.ledge to o0rselves1 and o/ o0r o.n .ill re/0se ? @.antonly
and deliberately@ to co--0nicate it# The tr0th is that till the neophyte attains to the
condition necessary /or that degree o/ $ll0-ination to .hich1 and /or .hich1 he is entitled
and /itted1 -ost i" not all o/ the Secrets are incounica6le+ The receptivity -0st be
eI0al to the desire to instr0ct# The ill0-ination u!t coe "ro within+ Till then no hoc0s
poc0s o/ incantations1 or -0--ery o/ appliances1 no -etaphysical lect0res or
disc0ssions1 no sel/'i-posed penance can give it# ,ll these are b0t -eans to an end1 and
all .e can do is to direct the 0se o/ s0ch -eans as have been e-pirically /o0nd by the
e3perience o/ ages to cond0ce to the reI0ired ob>ect# ,nd this .as and has been no
!ecret /or tho0sands o/ years# ? The Mahata <etter!/ pp# 2+2'3
9ET US 4E& o0r st0dy this evening by reading an e3tract /ro- vol0-e $ o/ The Secret
Doctrine/ page (C75
,s to the @ele-ental ato-s1@ so called1 the 4cc0ltists re/er to the- by that na-e .ith a
-eaning analogo0s to that .hich is given by the Aind0 to %rah-a .hen he calls hi-
,&U1 the @,to-#@ Every ele-ental ato/ in search o/ .hich -ore than one 6he-ist has
/ollo.ed the path indicated by the ,lche-ists1 is1 in their /ir- belie/ !.hen
not 2nowledgeB/ a S4U9; not necessarily a dise-bodied so0l1 b0t a Ai4a/ as the Aind0s
call it1 a centre o/ 4TE&T$,9 F$T,9$TN1 .ith latent intelligence in it1 and1 in the case o/
co-po0nd So0ls ? an intelligent active EP$STE&6E1 /ro- the highest to the lo.est order1
a /or- co-posed o/ -ore or less di//erentiations#
7a>estic1 s0bli-e1 are the tho0ghts involved in the st0dy .hich .e begin this evening# $t
o0ght to be said1 perhaps1 by .ay o/ pre/ace1 that the /reI0ent interr0ptions o/ o0r -eetings
necessitated by circ0-stances have prevented 0s be/ore /ro- entering 0pon this ne.
depart0re in o0r st0dies; and .e shall not1 e3cept by in/erence1 e-bar2 0pon o0r present line
o/ tho0ght -ore /0lly than .e shall do this evening 0ntil o0r st0dies can be contin0ed -ore
de/initely# ,nd .hy; %eca0se /ro- i--e-orial ti-e o0r School has set apart a certain
portion o/ the year1 at certain speci/ied ti-es1 o/ never less than three -onths1 in .hich the
st0dies .ere p0rs0ed daily /or ho0rs at a ti-e1 .ith intervals o/ rest; and these .ere called
periods o/ initiation# The reason /or this -ethod .as that /reI0ent interr0ptions1 the inroad or
ingress into the tho0ght o/ daily occ0pations1 so distracted the -ind1 so tore it a.ay /ro- the
higher nat0re1 that it co0ld not s0ccess/0lly -eet and 0nderstand the things .hich it .as then
s0pposed to 0nderta2e and to try to co-prehend#
%0t doing the best .e can1 .e shall begin this evening1 very shortly1 to 0nderta2e a st0dy o/
the ato-1 and o/ .hat A# # %lavats2y calls its advent0res1 by re/erring to collateral and
al-ost identical s0b>ects5 the laya'centers1 the s0n and planets and co-ets1 and the so0l and
the -onad by contrast .ith the above#
,s .e read in The Secret Doctrine/ an ato- is a so0l# , so0l is an entity .hich is evolved by
e3periences; it is not a spirit1 it is a vehicle o/ the spirit# $t -ani/ests in -atter thro0gh and by
being a s0bstantial portion o/ the lo.er essence o/ the spirit# To0ching another plane belo. it1
or it -ay be above it1 the point o/ 0nion allo.ing ingress and egress to the conscio0sness is a
laya'center# , laya'center is1 there/ore1 a center in @ho-ogeneo0s@ s0bstance# $t .ill be
re-e-bered that in a /or-er st0dy .e derived this .ord la&a /ro- the Sans2rit
.ord li/ -eaning @to dissolve#@ The .ord %rala&a co-es /ro- the sa-e root5 la&a is the no0n'
/or- /ro- the root li/ .ith a prepositional pre/i3 %ra/ -eaning @to.ards1@ @/or.ards1@ hence
@contin0o0s#@ $n other .ords1 %rala&a -eans @contin0o0s dissol0tion#@ , laya'center is that
part o/ an entity1 o/ an ato- .hich1 being relatively ho-ogeneo0s s0bstance1 -atter
@dissolved@ into ho-ogeneity1 allo.s ingress and egress /or passing conscio0sness and
conscio0snesses#
9et 0s ta2e the laya'center as -ani/ested in the s0n# The s0n at its core is a laya'center#
Each planet li2e.ise has at its central point1 and is in its central point1 a laya'center; each
co-et is in b0ilding aro0nd a laya'center1 its heart or core# =i-ensions or positions in space
have nothing to do .ith it1 beca0se a laya'center is not o/ a physical and -aterial nat0re# $t is
the disappearing'point /or all things belo. it1 and the entering'point /or all things above it1 /or
any one partic0lar entity1 be it an ato-1 a s0n1 a planet1 a h0-an being#
The s0n1 as .e see it1 is a re/lection1 as .e have o/ten be/ore said# S0ppose that .e call it
a 4eil1 .hich is perhaps a better .ord1 tho0gh re/lection is >0st as good1 beca0se it
act0ally i! a re/lection ? the s0n .e see1 that is# :hat do .e see .hen .e loo2 at the s0n;
:e see a titanic splendor# That is a re/lection# The s0n itsel/1 its core1 co0ld be held in the
pal- o/ yo0r hand1 and $ -ean the part o/ the s0n .hich is behind that splendoro0s re/lection#
That part .hich co0ld be held in the pal- o/ yo0r hand is itsel/ o/ the seventh or highest
stage o/ the lo.est pra2riti'stage1 a particle o/ -atter's0bstance o/ the lo.est cos-ic grade1
the pra2riti# The splendor that .e see is the a0ra o/ that laya'center1 its a0ra or e-anations1
and these e-anations are /orces# The s0n is a body o/ 0ni-aginable /orces springing /ro-1
po0ring do.n thro0gh1 this laya'center /ro- the tr0e s0n .hich is behind the o0ter veil# ,nd
the golden dis2 that .e see is b0t the a0ric -ani/estation to o0r physical eyes on this plane o/
the tr0e s0n1 po0ring thro0gh the s0n at the center o/ the visible orb#
So it is in a h0-an being# There is a center in his nat0re thro0gh .hich po0r the /orces /ro-
above1 and thro0gh .hich he hi-sel/ ascends higher; and that center is the laya'center o/ his
inner nat0re#
$n spea2ing o/ the -onad1 .e -0st not con/0se it .ith the laya'center# , laya'center is the
channel1 the point1 the disappearing'point1 the ne0tral center1 in -atter or s0bstance1 thro0gh
.hich conscio0sness passes ? and the center o/ that conscio0sness is the -onad# For the
present -o-ent .e need not pa0se to consider on .hat plane the -onad is acting; on any
plane on .hich it -ay be acting .hen it passes /ro- one plane o/ conscio0sness to another it
does so thro0gh a laya'center# $t .ill be re-e-bered that in o0r last st0dy or t.o .e pointed
o0t the parallelis-s r0nning in nat0re1 s0ch as -atter and spirit'conscio0sness# lease
re-e-ber that these .ords are 0sed generaliDingly1 not de/ining any partic0lar -atter or any
partic0lar spirit1 b0t only to sho. the -ass o/ 2os-ic s0bstance acted 0pon by the great
/orces above it1 .hich are the beings o/ li/e1 the hierarchies o/ 0niversal nat0re; and in this
2os-ic body1 in this 2os-ic s0bstance1 there are inn0-erable laya'centers1 beca0se they are
really the @critical points1@ the translation'stages1 by .hich as individ0als .e gain access to
o0r higher sel/1 and by .hich the divine and spirit0al /orces entering into 0s /ro- above pass#
The s0n is the vital /oc0s o/ its syste-1 o0tside o/ other activities /ar greater still1 b0t the
physical s0n is that so-ething .hich .e can see .ith o0r physical eyes; and /0rther it is a
thing o/ -atter1 altho0gh it is in the si3th degree o/ o0r stage o/ pra2riti1 co0nting 0p.ards1 the
b0ddhic stage o/ the lo.est pra2riti# %0t the true s0n1 the spirit0al s0n1 is that divine being
behind the s0n1 an entity1 a god# The physical s0n is its body or gar-ent1 >0st as in o0rselves
o0r higher nat0re is a god1 a divine spar21 and that divine spar2 is a onad# The so0l in
contradistinction .ith the -onad is its vehicle /or -ani/estation on any one plane# $t really
-eans vehicle# The spirit -ani/ests in seven vehicles1 and each one o/ these vehicles is a
so0l; and that partic0lar point thro0gh .hich the divine in/l0ence passes into the so0l is the
laya'center1 and it is1 so to say1 the heart o/ the so0l1 or rather the s0--it thereo/ ?
ho-ogeneo0s so0l's0bstance1 i/ yo0 li2e#
$t is very necessary to have these preli-inary conceptions clear and de/initely o0tlined in o0r
-inds# The -ysteries behind these .ords are s0bli-e1 0ni-aginably bea0ti/0l; b0t .e cannot
0nderstand the- properly .itho0t 2no.ing the .ords1 and the i-plications o/ tho0ght
involved in the- .hen .e 0se the-#
,ll the sectarian depart0res /ro- the great /o0ndation'religions o/ antiI0ity have gro.n o0t o/
the lac2 o/ /ollo.ing that one r0le# Understand yo0r ter-s and 0se the- rightly# =isp0tes
have arisen abo0t the -eaning o/ ter-s1 d0e perhaps to the /act that in the origin o/ any
partic0lar religion those ter-s .ere not de/ined in s0ch clever and appropriate -anner that
later dog-atists co0ld not /asten 0pon the- in order to -is0se the-#
$t is act0ally a -ost di//ic0lt proble-# :e are al.ays bet.een @the devil and the deep sea#@
4n the one hand1 .e have the people .ho .ill insist 0pon literalis-s1 s0ch as @ythagoras1
the 7aster1 said so#@ , bea0ti/0l sense o/ loyalty to the teacher in so-e cases1 perhaps; b0t
see ho. it can be -is0sed by the .o0ld'be dog-atists1 .ho insist on ta2ing the letter and
losing the spiritK ,nd1 on the other hand1 there are those .ho thin2 that the letter has no
i-portance1 .hich is li2e.ise .rong; this class thin2 that they have the spirit and they try to
/orce the letter to con/or- to their conceptions o/ .hat the 7aster or 7asters ta0ght1
ythagoras or any other#
So it is necessary that .e have these and other si-ilar .ords clearly o0tlined in o0r -inds#
:hen .e 0nderta2e the st0dy o/ the ato- .e e-bar2 0pon ne. and vast /ields o/
conscio0sness1 and pass in o0r -inds over to other planes; and o0r only salvation is1 as A#
# %lavats2y has told 0s1 to cling li2e gri- death to the /0nda-ental principles o/ her
teachings .hich are the 7asters8 teachings# :e cannot so cling 0nless .e 2no. e3actly to
.hat .e sho0ld cling# $/ .e .ere to say that an ato- is a god1 .e .o0ld say .rongly# $/ .e
.ere to say that the ato- contains a god1 .e sho0ld spea2 only partly rightly# $/ .e .ere to
say that the ato- -ani/ests a god1 .e approach a step nearer to the tr0th#
&o. co-es another tho0ght# :hat do .e -ean by ato; =o .e -ean a 2os-ical ato-1 an
astral ato-1 a psychical ato-1 a b0ddhic ato-1 an at-ic ato-; 40r st0dies o/ theosophy
sho. 0s that all these ato-s are vario0sly @so0ls1@ e3istent on divers planes1 in vario0s
degrees o/ conscio0sness; and .e realiDe then that the ato- in it! e!!ence/ in its in-ost o/
its in-ost1 is a -onad1 a divine spar21 a being /ro- /or-er -anvantaras1 .hich -onad has
learned its lessons so /0lly that it needs to learn nothing -ore in this -anvantara# %0t it is
trailed by a train o/ s2andhas1 resident in the li/e'ato-s1 and .hich are 2ar-ic i-pressions#
These li/e'ato-s are in/erior beings1 trailing a/ter it1 -a2ing 0p its bodies1 so to say1 as
certain ele-ents -a2e 0p o0r bodies1 beings /or .hich it is responsible beca0se it a//ected
the- in /or-er 2alpas1 /or-er -anvantaras1 /or-er li/e cycles5 responsible /or the- beca0se
it has soiled the- in so-e instances1 and in other instances it has cleansed the- /ro- the
soil#
:hat are these in/erior things that /ollo. in the trac2 o/ a 7onad; They are parts o/ its being1
tho0ghts o/ its tho0ght1 children o/ its so0l1 o//spring o/ its heart# S0bli-e tho0ght1 in .hich .e
have the secret o/ -ani/estation in the 0niverse1 and also the secret o/ the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion; the secret .hy one hal/ o/ nat0re is .hat .e call -atter1 crystalliDed and so'
called inert; and .hy the other hal/ o/ nat0re is .ill and conscio0sness1 intelligence and love1
0nderstanding and li/e# ,nd these t.o opposites .or2 eternally together d0ring the
-anvantaras# ,t every -o-ent in space and ti-e1 0nits o/ this train o/ in/erior things
the-selves reach co-prehension and 0nderstanding1 and pass thro0gh their partic0lar laya'
center into spheres above ? the-selves having -ean.hile developed or evolved other
in/erior beings trailing a/ter the-#
The processes o/ 2os-ic li/e and evol0tion are o0tlined in .hat has >0st been said# So that
.hen .e 0se A# # %lavats2y8s e3pression and spea2 o/ the @advent0res o/ an ato-1@ .e
obtain so-e gli-pse o/ the st0dy no. be/ore 0s# =o yo0 realiDe that in the st0dies .hich .e
have /ollo.ed as /aith/0lly as .e have been able to do so1 there has been laid do.n the
o0tline1 at least the s2eleton'/ra-e.or21 o/ a syste- o/ philosophy entire and co-plete1 so
-a>estic in its reaches1 so .ide in its s0b>ect1 having s0ch grande0r in its possibilities1 s0ch
pro/0ndity in its in-ost nat0re1 that nothing li2e it is 2no.n in the e3oteric literat0re o/ the
.orld today; Even the -agni/icent syste-s o/ e3oteric philosophy o/ the 4rient and the best
e//orts o/ E0ropean philosophy ? .hich1 by the .ay1 are -ostly -ere verbiage ? cannot
co-pare .ith it# Their light is as a -ere r0shlight be/ore the blaDe o/ the noonday s0n1 .hen
.e co-pare the- .ith the esoteric syste-#
,nd .hy is this so; %eca0se .e have o0tlined the teachings o/ the gods1 the teachings
/or-erly ta0ght in the ancient 7ystery Schools# &or have they been -ore than hinted at# :e
have not said the one'tho0sandth part o/ .hat re-ains to be said#
Seven are the 2eys .hich open .ide the portals o/ the ancient .isdo-# These seven 2eys .e
have to0ched b0t lightly1 o/ necessity lightly1 in o0r all0sions to the seven treas0ries o/
.isdo-# $n one or another o/ these seven treas0ries1 or in one or another o/ these seven
>e.els1 lies every depart-ent o/ h0-an tho0ght1 every tho0ght that h0-an -ind can give
birth to# These seven treas0ries .ere given and e3plained to the ancient races by -e-bers
o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 and by their p0pils1 and they have been passed do.n to 0s#
%0t re-e-ber that these seven treas0ries1 as .e have already said very plainly1 0nder the
na-es they go by are -ere 2ey .ords1 catch.ords1 re-inding'ter-s#
These s0bli-e ideas -a2e a -an /eel at ho-e in any part o/ the 0niverse# This is the very
2eynote o/ occ0ltis-1 the being one .ith the 0niversal li/e1 at ho-e every.here# 4cc0ltis- is
the e3position o/ the essence o/ li/e1 o/ the essence o/ being1 and o/ the essence o/ living# 9et
0s never con/0se it .ith the so'called occ0lt arts1 arts .hich are strictly /orbidden to 0s as
st0dents o/ this School# The %rothers o/ the Shado. lead on their helpless victi-s .ith the
occ0lt arts1 enticing the- thereby1 and their end is nonentity# %0t the 7asters have told 0s
plainly5 /irst learn discipline1 /irst learn the 9a.# Then the po.ers .hich yo0 -ay crave1 yo0
.ill crave only as spirit0al po.ers1 and only to give yo0rsel/ and the- to others# 4n the path1
the so'called occ0lt arts drop a.ay even /ro- the i-agination1 beca0se their del0ding
entice-ents and their all0re-ents are clearly seen# $ do not i-agine /or a -o-ent that any
one o/ 0s here needs to be re-inded o/ this#
<atherine Tingley has been insistent 0pon the necessity o/ /irst learning the 9a. ? and the
learning o/ the 9a. -eans the develop-ent o/ the spirit0al nat0re; and it is the royal road1
the royal 0nion# Aaving it1 yo0 have everything in the 0niverse; bo0ndless 2no.ledge1 /or
instance1 and the po.ers co--ens0rate .ith it then .ill co-e nat0rally# %0t any atte-pt to
c0ltivate the- pre-at0rely1 any -ere longing /or the-1 .ill p0ll yo0 do.n as s0rely as the
s0n .ill rise over the eastern horiDon to-orro. -orning1 beca0se it is the personal coloring
o/ the -ind1 it is the personal .ish1 it is desire and appetite /or po.er and novelty that .ant
these things# The divine'h0-an entity1 the b0ddha1 the -e-ber o/ the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion by divine right1 2no.s these things and .ants the- not1 /or he has passed /ar
beyond the-# The constant 0rge .ith hi- is to go above -atter1 to cleanse the heart /ro-
soil1 to cast o// the gar-ents o/ the -ortal -an and to p0t on the robes o/ i--ortality .hich1
in /act1 in.ardly are yo0rs already1 a.aiting si-ply /or each individ0al to recogniDe the-1 and
to beco-e1 as the ancient Egyptian e3pressed it1 a @Son o/ the S0n1@ a holy initiate#
hapter Twenty-Nine
Space5 the %o0ndless ,ll# $n/illed .ith $nterloc2ing1 $nterpenetrating Universes#
4ne ,ction1 4ne Aierarchical $ntelligence1 4ne 6o0rse o/ 4peration
thro0gho0t &at0re5 4ne 4rganis-1 4ne Universal 9i/e#
Either an ordered 0niverse1 or else a .elter o/ con/0sion# ,ss0redly then a .orld'order# 4r
thin2 yo0 that order s0bsisting .ithin yo0rsel/ is co-patible .ith disorder in the ,ll; ,nd
that too .hen all things1 ho.ever distrib0ted and di//0sed1 are a//ected sy-pathetically#
? Marcu! )ureliu! )ntoninu! to .i!el"/ *1 27 !Rendall1 trans#"
6onstantly regard the 0niverse as one living being1 having one s0bstance and one so0l;
and observe ho. all things have re/erence to one perception1 the perception o/ this one
living being; and ho. all things act .ith one -ove-ent; and ho. all things are the co'
operating ca0ses o/ all things .hich e3ist; observe too the contin0o0s spinning o/ the
thread and the conte3t0re o/ the .eb# ? $bid#1 *1 *) !9ong1 trans#"
$& 64&T$&U$&B o0r st0dy this evening1 let -e once -ore introd0ce o0r s0b>ect by calling
attention to the /act that the teachings o/ occ0ltis- are based on a /o0ndation o/ ethics and
-orals; and1 as has so o/ten been said1 there is the distinction .hich -ar2s the division line1
as it .ere1 bet.een the hierarchies on the one side1 the ascending or l0-ino0s arc1 and
those hierarchies on the other side1 the shado.y arc1 or those beings and intelligences .hich
are descending into -atter /or the e3perience needed in order to enable the- to ta2e their
-arch on the 0p.ard rise#
Ethics is not a s0b>ect .hich is disp0table1 as bet.een -en; only the /or-s o/ ethics are; b0t
the /0nda-ental principles o/ right as contrasted .ith .rong1 o/ d0ty as contrasted .ith
sel/ishness1 o/ the >oy o/ ren0nciation and sel/'abnegation as contrasted .ith the shriveling
in/l0ence o/ the opposite theories o/ being ? and there are -any in the .orld ? in these lies
the distinction bet.een the sons o/ light and the children o/ the shado.#
$t .ill be re-e-bered that o0r s0b>ect in closing o0r last st0dy .as the teachings i-bodied in
the .ord ato# 7ar2 /irst1 please1 that this does not -ean the ato- o/ science# The ato- o/
science is a -ore or less clear conception o/ /0nda-ental -aterial particles .hich has arisen
in the -inds o/ scientists in an atte-pt to e3plain the pheno-ena o/ physical nat0re as those
pheno-ena have been st0died d0ring the last h0ndred years or so; and the scienti/ic
doctrines concerning the ato- are based1 /0rther-ore1 largely on -is0nderstood teachings o/
certain Bree2 philosophers#
%0t i/ .e 0nderstand the ato- as the doctrine concerning it is i-bodied in the teachings o/
the ancient .isdo-1 .e shall /ind that it is an intelligence and a living being o/ its 2ind# 9et 0s
then open o0r st0dies this evening by reading /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 pages 1)7
and 1)C; /ro- page 1)7 /irst5
# # # every ato- in the Universe has the potentiality o/ sel/'conscio0sness in it1 and is1 li2e
the 7onads o/ 9eibnitD1 a Universe in itsel/1 and "or itsel/# 0t i! an ato and an angel+
&ot a 6hristian angel; not a being .ith .ings1 etc#1 b0t a spirit0al intelligence# Then /ro- page
1)C5
The =octrine teaches that1 in order to beco-e a divine1 /0lly conscio0s god1 ? aye1 even
the highest ? the Spirit0al pri-eval $&TE99$BE&6ES -0st pass thro0gh the h0-an
stage# ,nd .hen .e say h0-an1 this does not apply -erely to o0r terrestrial h0-anity1
b0t to the -ortals that inhabit any .orld1 i+e#1 to those $ntelligences that have reached the
appropriate eI0ilibri0- bet.een -atter and spirit1 as we have no.1 since the -iddle point
o/ the Fo0rth Root Race o/ the Fo0rth Ro0nd .as passed# Each Entity -0st have .on /or
itsel/ the right o/ beco-ing divine1 thro0gh sel/'e3perience#
These .ords @sel/'e3perience@ co-prise the tho0ght .hich <atherine Tingley so /reI0ently
e-phasiDes in her instr0ctions to 0s ? !el"1directed e4olution/ a doctrine i-bodying the
necessity o/ 0sing o0r spirit0al .ill and o0r spirit0al intelligence /or noble and altr0istic and
i-personal ai-s# 9et 0s say here again that /or -an there is al.ays a choice o/ paths5 the
right'hand1 the l0-ino0s arc1 0p.ard and 0p.ard /orever; and the le/t'hand1 the shado.y arc1
leading do.n into those spheres concerning .hich .e have 2no.ledge1 o/ co0rse1 and o/
.hich .e have already several ti-es spo2en#
F0rther1 be it noted that this ter- or .ord ato- is really a catch.ord# :e say ato-1 b0t .e
act0ally -ean a -0ltit0de o/ tho0ghts connected .ith cos-ogony and evol0tion# For
instance1 god!/ onad!/ !oul!/ ato!/ are .ords >ointly and separately involved in pro/o0nd
doctrines e3plaining cos-ogonical and evol0tionary processes# ,nd connected there.ith
very closely is .hat is called in occ0ltis- the laya'center1 to .hich .e have brie/ly all0ded in
/or-er st0dies# $n part three o/ this /irst vol0-e o/ TheSecret Doctrine/ A# # %lavats2y1 in
section 1(1 devotes one o/ the -ost bea0ti/0l parts o/ her great .or2 to developing the
doctrines co-prised in .hat she called @Bods1 7onads1 and ,to-s#@
lease 0nderstand /irst1 that in these st0dies1 I0estions o/ spirit0ality1 ethics1 religion1 are
deeply involved# They go to the very /o0ndation o/ o0r being# They are not -ere I0estions o/
brain'-ind disp0tation1 or -ere -ental e3ercises in clever spea2ing# These teachings lead
directly to the setting o/ o0r /eet on the path o/ the l0-ino0s arc; and .e .ho have had the
bene/it already o/ these teachings sho0ld have so-e realiDation1 at least1 that i/ there is one
pri-al ai- and ob>ect to.ards .hich .e loo21 it is to beco-e -ore /0lly1 -ore heart/eltly1 one
.ith that glorio0s ar-y o/ .hich the 7asters are the o0ter vang0ard1 as it .ere#
&o. .hat do .e -ean by space; eople generally thin2 o/ space as a @receptacle o/ things@
? a de/inition .hich .e re>ect# They tal2 abo0t in/inite space1 and yet at the sa-e ti-e call
space a receptacle1 a container ? a c0rio0s co--entary 0pon the loose thin2ing o/ o0r age#
4bvio0sly i/ it is a rece%tacle it is a "inite thing; and besides that1 the conception entirely
-isses the heart'-eaning o/ the .ord space# Understand .hat we-ean by space1 and .e
have a 2ey by .hich to open -0ch o/ the nobler teachings hid deeply in the ele-entary
st0dies# Space1 as 0nderstood in tr0e occ0ltis-1 -eans that all that is1 is a /0llness1 per/ect
and contin0o0s absol0tely1 endless and beginningless; not a -ere receptacle1 not a -ere
container1 nothing /inite1 b0t the bo0ndless ,ll# F0rther1 space is; it i! not -erely on or in one
plane1 b0t on and in seven planes1 the seven 2os-ic planes o/ o0r 0niverse1 besides
penetrating in.ards in/initely1 endlessly1 and also o0t.ardly endlessly# $t is the in/inite
plero-a o/ the Bree2s1 the Bree2 .ord %leroa -eaning @/0llness#@
4bvio0sly1 everything that is1 i! a %art o/ space# Space not being a -ere container1 an
abstraction o/ the -ind1 or a -ere receptacle1 sho.s .hy A# # %lavats2y in her teachings
spea2s o/ the only @Bod@ .e recogniDe as That ? 0sing the .ord o/ the old Fedas ? i#e#1
space1 the bo0ndless ,ll# This ,ll obvio0sly contains all things1 everything that is1 as sho.n
be/ore in o0r st0dy o/ that .onder/0l doctrine o/ hierarchies1 .hich is the third o/ the seven
>e.els or treas0ries o/ .isdo-# Space is in/illed .ith an in/inite -0ltit0de o/ sel/'contained
0niverses1 interloc2ing and interpenetrating each other# These 0niverses1 again1 are
the-selves in/illed .ith endlessly -0ltit0dino0s beings o/ all and vario0s 2inds1 the high and
the lo.1 the inner and the o0ter# :e cannot say the highe!t and the lowe!t/ beca0se that
/or- o/ e3pression .o0ld i-ply li-its or bo0nds1 /rontiers1 and space is li-itless# 4nly .ithin
the con/ines or bo0ndaries o/ any one 0niverse or hierarchy -ay .e 0se the s0perlative /or-
o/ these ad>ectives1 and say thehighe!t or the lowe!t+
Ta2e any one 0niverse or hierarchy as an instance o/ the general r0le# ,ny 0niverse is in/illed
.ith beings /inding their origin and ta2ing their rise in the s0--it1 the ac-e1 the seed in
another sense1 .hich is1 so to say1 the god o/ that hierarchy; and this god1 at the beginning o/
any period o/ -ani/estation1 this spirit0al1 ele-entary being1 casts o// /ro- itsel/1 or thro.s
/orth /ro- itsel/1 evolves /ro- itsel/1 brings o0t /ro- itsel/1 a -0ltit0dino0s series o/ hierarchies
consisting o/ less or in/erior beings1 beings less in spirit0ality and dignity than itsel/# They are1
as it .ere1 the tho0ghts that the god or 2os-ic pri-al thin2er thin2s# Ta2e the instance o/ a
thin2ing h0-an being as an analogy# Ae thin2s tho0ghts# Each tho0ght has its o.n li/e1 each
tho0ght has its o.n essence1 each has its o.n co0rse to r0n# Each tho0ght is based on a
partic0lar vibration1 as it .ere1 0sing .ords co--on to o0r 0nderstanding today# Each has its
o.n partic0lar s.abhava or intrinsic essential nat0re1 .hich is its individ0ality#
So this s0--it o/ the hierarchy @thin2s tho0ghts#@ &o. $ do not -ean to say that this s0--it
is a h0-an being or a god'being1 .hich thin2s tho0ghts as .e do# The /ig0re here 0sed is an
analogy only# ,s a -an thin2s tho0ghts1 and th0s /ills his at-osphere aro0nd hi- .ith these
living beings1 these .inged -essengers called tho0ghts1 so the pri-ordial ele-entary being1
the s0--it1 the seed1 the /irst to iss0e /orth /ro- the boso- o/ the in/inite 7other1 casts /orth
/ro- itsel/ these parts o/ itsel/1 these -onadic aggregations1 these 2os-ic @tho0ghts#@
,nd .hat are these /irst e-anations; They are .hat the ancient .isdo- called the god!+ ,nd
these gods in their t0rn send /orth /ro- the-selves other -0ltit0dino0s series o/ beings less
than they ? less in dignity1 less in grande0r1 less in 0nderstanding# ,nd these secondary
e-anations or evol0tions are the onad!# ,nd these -onads1 as they p0rs0e their .ay do.n
the shado.y arc1 in the beginning o/ a -anvantara1 in their t0rn cast /orth /ro- the-selves1 in
identically the sa-e .ay and on the sa-e line o/ action1 other entities less than they1 /or-ing
still -ore o0t.ard hierarchies1 -ore -aterial intelligences; and these tertiary e-anations are
the !oul!+,nd the so0ls1 as they p0rs0e their .ay do.n1 e3actly as their higher progenitors
did1 cast /orth /ro- the-selves1 thin2 /orth /ro- the-selves1 send /orth /ro- the-selves1
evolve /orth /ro- the-selves1 beings still less in .isdo- and spirit0ality and dignity and
po.er than they# ,nd these are the ato! ? b0t not the physical ato-# 9et 0s cast that idea
o0t o/ o0r -inds instantly# The ato-s o/ physical science are really -olec0lar aggregations o/
ato-ic ele-ents only1 e3isting on the borderland o/ the astral plane#
The ti-e .ill co-e .hen .e shall set /orth -ore clearly than .e have ti-e to do tonight1 the
relation o/ the ato- to the pheno-enal physical .orld# :hat .e need to do this evening in
the introd0ctory st0dy no. in hand1 is to sho. one action1 one hierarchical intelligence1 one
co0rse o/ operation1 thro0gho0t nat0re# lease re-e-ber that these o%eration! o" nature are
.hat the scientists and 6hristian theologians1 in their ignorance1 call the la.s o/ nat0re# &o.
there are no la.s o/ nat0re1 as .e have set /orth and e3plained be/ore# There are no
-echanically acting la.s1 so called1 beca0se there are no la.gi4er!5 conseI0ently there are
no s0ch nat0ral la.s# %0t there are o%eration! o" nature/ and these operations o/ nat0re are
.hat o0r thin2ers see1 and /ro- lac2 o/ 0nderstanding the ancient .isdo-1 and perhaps /ro-
lac2 o/ properly descriptive .ords1 they /ollo. the analogy o/ h0-an operations and say the
@la.s o/ nat0re#@
%0t they are the spirit0ally a0to-atic operations o/ beings in that vast aggregate o/ entities
and intelligences1 .hich is called the 0niverse1 .hich is b0t one o/ in/inite -0ltit0des o/ others
in space# ,ll that is1 is one vast organis-# There is no void and no e-ptiness any.here ? all
is in/illed and is one bo0ndless /0llness# $/ .e can /i3 that tho0ght in o0r -inds1 and thin2 o/
o0rselves as lin2ed in a chain o/ beings1 an endless chain ? .hat Ao-er called the Bolden
6hain ? .e shall realiDe the /orce1 the philosophical pro/0ndity1 and the deep -eaning o/
.hat o0r teachings set /orth .hen they spea2 o/ 0niversal brotherhood1 the /0nda-ental 0nity
o/ all that is# Every one o/ 0s has in hi-sel/ the potentiality o/ beco-ing a god1 and o/
advancing /ro- godhood still higher into .hat are no. to 0s ine3pressible spheres o/ divinity#
%0t it depends 0pon o0rselves# ,t each instant the choice lies be/ore 0s5 the path to the @right
hand1@ and the path to the @le/t hand1@ adopting the old %0ddhist no-enclat0re#
These t.o arcs1 the shado.y arc or the arc o/ -atter1 and the l0-ino0s arc or the arc o/ light1
or o/ spirit1 e3e-pli/y in those t.o phrases the d0ality o/ nat0re in -ani/estation; and the
beings on the l0-ino0s arc are .hat o0r Teachers call the dhyani'b0ddhas1 the b0ddhas o/
conte-plation1 those .ho once in long past 2alpas .ere -en as .e are no.1 h0-an beings#
The other arc contains the hierarchies .hich are descending into -atter in order to learn the
lessons that .e o/ this 2alpa have learned in the past; as the dhyani'b0ddhas1 the sons o/
light1 did1 long1 long aeons agone1 b0t .ho no. are the s0--it o/ the b0ddhic hierarchy o/
.hich .e /or- a part1 i/ o0r hearts are sincere and o0r so0ls are strong#
The bea0ty and the splendor o/ these teachings /ill the so0l .ith a.e# $t needs b0t the proper
co-prehension o/ the-1 so /ir-ly to /i3 the -ind and the so0l to the eternal tr0th that nothing
.ill ever sha2e the- in /0t0re# ,y1 i/ .e can b0t see1 there lies 0n/olded the great -ystery o/
evol0tion# Those .ho have advanced along the path have le/t their records behind the-1 and
there they stand1 those glorio0s entities1 ar-ies o/ the-5 the lo.est are those >0st beyond 0s1
the chelas1 and then higher still are the -asters1 and the -asters o/ the -asters; and then
the chohans; and the -aha'chohans; and then the dhyani'chohans; and then the dhyani'
b0ddhas; and th0s endlessly1 on and 0p1 /or in/inity is li-itless and endless# ,nd this process
o/ hierarchical develop-ent has been going on /ro- eternity in the past1 and .ill contin0e into
eternity in the /0t0re#
The reason .hy -en /ind it di//ic0lt to accept this s0bli-e teaching is the /act that their -inds
are so /0ll o/ other tho0ghts that it is di//ic0lt /or the- to drive in and /ind place /or and /i3 in
their -e-ory these s0bli-e tr0ths# 7en .ill not .illingly give 0p their pre>0dices; they brea2
not .illingly their -ind'-olds# Ao. -any o/ 0s co-e to a -eeting li2e this .ith -inds -ade
0p on .hat .e @2no. to be the tr0th1@ beca0se1 /orsooth1 .e have so read it so-e.here1 and
o0r -inds are crystalliDed in that setting# $ 2no. ho. di//ic0lt it is /or each one o/ 0s to 2eep
the -ind al.ays /ree and plastic1 al.ays ready to accept the tr0th1 no -atter .hat o0r o.n
pre>0dices1 religio0s1 philosophic1 or scienti/ic1 -ay be# The critic is not the .ise -an# The
critic 0nconscio0sly to hi-sel/ sees his o.n littleness; the .ise -an1 the -an .ho 2no.s1 .ill
say rather1 @$ .ill thin21 $ .ill e3a-ine this that the teacher has given -e# This is an
opport0nity; $ .ill not re>ect it beca0se it see-s di//ic0lt /or -e to believe1 or beca0se $ have
read that A# # %lavats2y in s0ch a passage said so and so#@ ray do not ta2e any one
passage o/ A# # %lavats2y8s or <atherine Tingley8s or :illia- G# E0dge8s1 and b0ild an iron
.all o/ pre>0dice abo0t it1 beca0se yo0 thin2 yo0 have 0nderstood it# <eep the -ind /l0id and
open and plastic; hold /ast to that .hich yo0r so0l1 yo0r conscience1 tells yo0 is good8 and1 i/
necessary1waitK Thebes .as not b0ilded in a day#
%e/ore concl0ding1 there is a I0estion .hich -0st have arisen in every tho0ght/0l
theosophical -ind1 and it has been th0sly phrased by a st0dent5
$/ every one is 0nder the g0idance o/ the dhyani'chohans1 ho. does it happen that1 as A#
# %lavats2y says in The Secret Doctrine/vol0-e $1 page *121 end o/ the second
paragraph1 @cr0elty1 bl0nders1 and b0t too'evident in>0stice@ are to be /o0nd in nat0re;
,nd she then I0otes the saying that nat0re is a @co-ely -other b0t stone cold#@
The principles 0pon .hich this tho0ght/0l I0estion has been based are very si-ple indeed# $n
the /irst place1 the dhyani'chohans do not @g0ide nat0re@; not any -ore than -an8s inner
dhyani'chohan g0ides the circ0lation o/ his blood1 or the processes o/ his o.n digestion#
Those things belong to the lo.er spheres o/ nat0re# There is a dhyani'chohan at the head o/
every depart-ent o/ nat0re; b0t direct inter/erence1 the old theological idea o/ an ,l-ighty
Bod inter/ering .ith the -ess he has hi-sel/ created1 is not accepted in o0r teachings# The
dhyani'chohans do not @g0ide@ the -aterial processes o/ nat0re# They are the s0--it o/ the
hierarchy and /or- the @la.s@ according to .hich nat0re .or2s; b0t every entity1 every
-onad1 every ato-1 every so0l1 has the po.er o/ /ree .ill and choice1 in -ore or less li-ited
degree1 depending 0pon its intelligence1 and -0st e3ercise it or go do.n# ,nd there is the
2ey1 the ans.er to the I0estion# 7an does not control by his tho0ght the beating o/ his heart
or the processes o/ his digestion1 or the ti-e it ta2es hi- to gro. /ro- babyhood to yo0th1
/ro- yo0th to -anhood1 and /ro- -anhood to sin2 into decrepit0de# Those things are r0led
by .hat are properly called the nat0re'/orces; and the la.s 0pon .hich the nat0re'/orces
.or2 are those s0perior operations .hich represent the a0to-atic spirit0al activities o/ the
dhyani'chohans; b0t to say that they g0ide nat0re is 0ntr0e; the idea is a relic o/ the old
theological 6hristian dog-as .hich re-ains in o0r -inds; and .e -0st .ash o0r intellects
clean o/ s0ch tho0ghts i/ .e .ish to 0nderstand the heart1 the essence1 o/ the ancient
teachings1 .hich sho. one organis-1 one 0niversal li/e1 in diversi/ied action every.here# ,nd
in this one organis-1 in this one beating heart1 in this one 0niversal li/e1 there are these
-0ltit0dino0s and co0ntless and endless and in/inite series o/ intelligences1 each .or2ing o0t
its o.n destiny /ro- in.ard i-p0lses1 controlled by vario0s higher entities in .hich they
-ove1 and live1 and have their being#
hapter Thirty
The $nterrelation o/ Bods1 7onads1 ,to-s ! a 5ey to the "octrine o#
Evolution. $uccessive E(anations* $heaths. ,i)her Bein)s
E(anatin) and lothin) The(selves in ,osts o# +ower Bein)s.
.orality Based on the $tructure o# the Universe.
%0t the other -edi0-1 .hich is s0spended /ro- the Bods1 tho0gh it is /ar in/erior to the-1
is that o/ dae-ons1 .hich is not o/ a pri-arily operative nat0re1 b0t is s0bservient to1 and
/ollo.s the bene/icent .ill o/ the Bods# $t li2e.ise 0n/olds into energy the invisible good o/
the Bods1 being itsel/ assi-ilated to it1 and gives co-pletion to its /abrications
con/or-ably to it# For it renders that .hich is ine//able in the good o/ the Bods e//able1
ill0-inates that .hich is /or-less in /or-s1 and prod0ces into visible reasons !or
prod0ctive /or-s" that .hich in divine good is above all reason# Receiving also a
connascent participation o/ things bea0ti/0l1 it i-parts and trans/ers it1 in 0nenvying
ab0ndance1 to the genera posterior to itsel/# These -iddle genera1 there/ore1 give
co-pletion to the co--on bond o/ the Bods and so0ls1 and ca0se the conne3ion o/ the-
to be indissol0ble# They also bind together the one contin0ity o/ things /ro- on high as /ar
as to the end; -a2e the co--0nion o/ .holes to be inseparable; ca0se all things to have
the best1 and a co--ens0rate -i3t0re; in a certain respect1 eI0ally trans-it the
progression /ro- -ore e3cellent to in/erior nat0res1 and the elevation /ro- things
posterior to s0ch as are prior; insert in -ore i-per/ect beings order and -eas0res o/ the
co--0nication .hich descends /ro- -ore e3cellent nat0res1 and o/ that by .hich it is
received; and -a2e all things to be /a-iliar and coadapted to all1 s0pernally receiving the
ca0ses o/ all these /ro- the Bods# ?$a-blich0s1 -n the M&!terie!/ pp# 32'3
T4 @<EE ,9$FE in -an his spirit0al int0itions1@ describes very .ell the .or2 o/ the
Theosophical Society in the .orld# %0t beyond that /ine tho0ght .e -0st go i/ .e are to
0nderstand and /0lly to p0t the teachings1 .hich have been given 0s in tr0st1 into o0r lives1
and thereby to develop the -oral1 the ethical1 sense .hich these teachings are /irst and
/ore-ost -eant to develop and to -a2e living in 0s1 i/ .e are to carry o0t the p0rpose and
ai- set be/ore 0s#
7ere disI0isitions on philosophic1 religio0s1 and scienti/ic s0b>ects i-part nothing o/
per-anent .orth1 are /r0itless1 bear no /r0it1 0nless the spirit o/ the 9odge is behind the-;
and that 9odge'spirit cannot e3ist .itho0t the spirit0al int0itions .hich e3ist in the core1 in the
central part1 o/ every h0-an being# No0 .ill notice that the entire tendency o/ o0r st0dies has
been to develop the higher nat0re o/ 0s# These teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy have
stood and .ill stand the test o/ ti-e and o/ the h0-an heart# Aere is a /act1 s0rely1 /or .hich
.e -ay give heart/elt than2s#
This evening .e are approaching the end o/ the ele-entary st0dies .hich .e have been
brie/ly considering /or the last t.o or three years; and soon it .ill be o0r d0ty to ta2e 0p -ore
concrete aspects o/ the ancient .isdo-1 or .isdo-'religion; and1 in /act1 .e have already
approached these -ore detailed doctrines in o0r present s0b>ect ? god!/ onad!/ !oul!/
ato!1 and 6odie!+ The necessity /or a clear 0nderstanding o/ those /or-er st0dies1 .hich to
so-e -ay appear so-e.hat abstract1 is this5 their reach into the real-s o/ h0-an tho0ght as
represented by religion1 philosophy1 and science1 is i--ense; they /or-1 as it .ere1 the
/o0ndation stones 0pon .hich the ancient .isdo- rests#
$t .ill be re-e-bered at o0r last st0dy in The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page 1)71 .e read
the /ollo.ing5 @every ato- in the Universe has the potentiality o/ sel/'conscio0sness in it1 and
is1 li2e the 7onads o/ 9eibnitD1 a Universe in itsel/1 and "or itsel/# 0t i! an ato and an angel> ?
that is1 a spirit0al being# :e are going to spea2 -ore plainly on this present s0b>ect than .e
have ever spo2en be/ore1 and the reason /or it is that the proper 0nderstanding o/ the
doctrine o/ evol0tion ? o/ develop-ent and gro.th ? rests 0pon a correct vision o/ the real
-eaning and interrelation o/ these three5 gods1 -onads1 and ato-s#
First1 it .ill be re-e-bered that in spea2ing o/ space1 .e re>ected the idea that space .as
-erely a container# &o. this is not a -ere abstraction o/ tho0ght; it is an absol0tely i-portant
thing to 0nderstand that all being is one i--ense organis-1 thro0gh .hich beats one
0niversal heart1 so to say# No0 see there i--ediately the basis o/ -orals; there is no
absol0te e-ptiness1 no absol0te vac00-1 any.here; all beings are closely related and
interchained in the strongest bonds o/ 0nion5 spirit0al1 divine1 intellect0al1 -ental1 astral1
physical# &othing can e3ist .itho0t all other things; /or the 2os-os1 deprived o/ a single ato-1
.o0ld cr0-ble into i-palpable d0st# &o -etaphor this; it is an act0ality#
&o. a -onad is o/ten spo2en o/ as descending into -atter# This is a /ashion o/ spea2ing1 a
-ethod o/ speech# The -onad itsel/ does not @descend1@ no -ore than does a god drive o0r
streetcars or blac2en o0r boots# Ao.1 then1 does the -onadic in/l0ence e3tend itsel/
thro0gho0t the di//erent planes o/ nat0re1 so that in ordinary parlance it is in /act correct to
spea2 o/ the -ineral -onad1 o/ the ani-al -onad1 o/ the astral -onad1 o/ the h0-an -onad1
o/ the spirit0al -onad1 o/ the divine -onad; $n the /ollo.ing .ay5 b0t /irst ? as an
interpolation ? concerning the -onad1 let -e read so-ething that A# # %lavats2y says !The
Secret Doctrine1 $$1 1+('C"5
The ter-s @-ineral1@ @vegetable@ and @ani-al@ onad are -eant to create a s0per/icial
distinction5 there is no s0ch thing as a 7onad !>iva" other than divine1 and conseI0ently
having been1 or having to beco-e1 h0-an# ,nd the latter ter- has to re-ain -eaningless
0nless the di//erence is .ell 0nderstood# The 7onad is a drop o0t o/ the shoreless 4cean
beyond1 or1 to be correct1 within the plane o/ pri-eval di//erentiation# $t is divine in its
higher and huan in its lo.er condition ? the ad>ectives @higher@ and @lo.er@ being 0sed
/or lac2 o/ better .ords ? and a -onad it re-ains at all ti-es1 save in the &irvanic state1
0nder .hatever conditions1 or .hatever e3ternal /or-s#
There yo0 have the -atter 0neI0ivocally stated#
$t .as pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting that .hen the thrill o/ li/e in the bo0ndless ,ll /irst
occ0rs in cyclical d0ration1 the pri-ordial beings iss0e /orth as .hat are called the gods1 and
that these gods1 as the ages passed1 d0ring the progressive -anvantaric periods1 sent /orth
/ro- the-selves1 or cast /orth /ro- the-selves1 or cast o0t /ro- the-selves1 or gave birth to1
less beings ? less -eaning in/erior1 o/ less divinity1 or less s0bli-ity1 less grande0r ? and
these beings are the -onads# $n e3actly the sa-e .ay the -onads sent /orth /ro-
the-selves !or gave birth /ro- the-selves to" the so0ls; and1 please 0nderstand1 >0st as the
-onad .as in the god1 so .as the so0l in the -onad# These entities re-ained latent in the
-onads as 2ar-ic /r0itage /ro- the previo0s -aha'-anvantara# E0st as the li/e re-ains in
the seed .hen cast /orth /ro- the plant1 and sends /orth its green blade in the springti-e; so1
.hen the -anvantaric thrill passes over these spaces1 a/ter the long pralayic rest1 the gods
send /orth the -onads1 and the -onads send /orth the so0ls1 and the so0ls send /orth the
ato-s# ,nd the ato-s si-ilarly send /orth /ro- the-selves o0r vehicles1 o0r bearers1 o0r
bodies#
9et 0s see i/ .e can ill0strate this by a diagra-# 9et 0s ta2e an i--ense circle to represent
the bo0ndless ,ll1 .hich o/ co0rse is -erely a representation /or space; then place a point in
its center# This point represents the /irst ger- o/ the 2os-ic li/e# This point also has its
-eaning in the sense o/ a 2os-ic seed# &o. it is not one point only in the 2os-os that
springs into activity1 b0t inn0-erable s0ch points1 s0ch seeds# The n0-ber is li-itless1
practically; and each one o/ s0ch points represents an individ0ality /ro- the previo0s -aha'
-anvantara# %0t these points as represented in the diagra- are sy-bols; and the one stands
diagra--atically /or all# $/ yo0 please1 this point in the I0asi'in/init0de o/ a hierarchy1 o/ a
0niverse1 is the beginning o/ that hierarchy1 and it represents the god o/ that hierarchy# This
god itsel/ is a synthetic aggregation o/ -0ltit0dino0s other gods1 as -an8s body is an
aggregation1 a synthesis1 o/ -0ltit0dino0s less or in/erior lives#
&o. this god clothes itsel/ in its e-anations1 in its pranic a0ra1 i/ yo0 li2e; it sends /orth /ro-
itsel/ pranic or vital e//l0via1 and th0s it clothes itsel/ in gar-ents1 in sheaths o/ vitality1 /lo.ing
/orth /ro- itsel/1 and these sheaths or gar-ents are its @clothing#@ ,ny s0ch god nat0rally
casts its o.n individ0ality into its sheath1 into its clothing5 seven degrees or states o/ it; its
individ0ality is its s.abhava1 an i-portant idea to .hich .e have dra.n yo0r attention and on
.hich .e have laid e-phasis# The s.abhava o/ an entity is its individ0ality1 the characteristic
o/ it1 the essentiality o/ .hat it is1 as contrasted .ith so-e other s.abhava# $n ordinary
lang0age .e -ay call it individ0ality# That .hich -a2es a rose bring /orth al.ays a rose1 and
not a lily; that .hich -a2es a -an bring /orth al.ays a -an and not so-e other sort o/ entity;
that .hich -a2es a god a god and not a -onad is its s.abhava# This is a Sans2rit co-po0nd
-eaning !el"1generation/ !el"1%ouring out1 the po0ring o0t o/ that .hich is .ithin and1
there/ore1 derivatively1 its individ0al and o.n characteristic# lease re-e-ber in this
connection that al.ays -ore .ithin1 in/initely1 bo0ndlessly1 -ore .ithin1 are the vast states o/
conscio0sness living on the eI0ally vast /ields o/ the spaces o/ space; the possibilities to be
evolved in a -an8s evol0tion1 and the eternities thro0gh .hich he has passed1 and the lives
.hich he has lived thro0gh in the past1 are endless#
%0t passing on# This god sends /orth its sheaths1 and these sheaths consist o/ less !or
in/erior" beings# $/ the god is a pri-ordial entity let 0s call these latter pri-al# ,s -an clothes
hi-sel/ in physical /lesh1 so the god clothes itsel/ in a gar-ent or body1 and this gar-ent or
body is co-posed1 i/ yo0 li2e1 o/ ato-s divine# &o. these divine ato-s are the onad!#
6o-pared .ith the god they are the -ere clothing o/ it1 >0st as the synthesis1 the
aggregation1 o/ physical lives .hich co-pose a -an8s body and .hich /or- his physical @coat
o/ s2in@ or clothing are1 as it .ere1 the physical -onads or the ato-s o/ the -an hi-sel/#
Si-ilarly1 let 0s1 then1 advance a point /arther# The ger-1 the seed1 the point above
-entioned1 let 0s no. call a -onad ? one o/ the al-ost in/inite n0-ber o/ -onads in each
god1 /or-ing the clothing o/ each god1 the sheaths1 the gar-ents o/ light1 that in .hich a god
lives1 .hich it has sent /orth /ro- itsel/1 its o0tpo0ring o/ individ0al li/e#
Si-ilarly acts the -onad as did its /ather'god; and it! sheath and it!clothing are the !oul!/ as
yet latent1 -ost o/ the-1 b0t so-e /or-ing the -ore active part in .hich it -ani/ests at any
one partic0lar ti-e# The sa-e co0rse o/ action occ0rs .ith the so0l# The so0l clothes itsel/
in ato!/ the e-anations /ro- itsel/ and the o0tpo0ring o/ its o.n vitality1 its o.n prana# ,nd
then the ato-s po0r /orth /ro- the-selves the e//l0vi0- o/ physical'astral li/e1 and these vital
e//l0via /or- the physical body o/ -an1 his astral body and his physical body#
So yo0 see >0st .hat A# # %lavats2y -eans by saying that an ato- is an @ato- and an
angel@ or a so0l# Thro0gh all these hosts o/ beings strea-s the /lo. o/ the sel/1 entering into
every one1 /or-ing in /act the very root o/ its being1 not ho.ever the personaliDed entity or the
ego1 b0t the i-personal sel/1 that .hich is the sa-e in yo0 and in -e; the sa-e in the
inhabitants o/ distant stellar spaces1 as it is in 0s5 the one sel/1 li-itless1 bo0ndless1 the
ideation o/ sel/hood# Re-e-ber that the ego is the sense o/ @$ a- $1@ not @yo0@; and here
i--ediately the conception o/ personality enters in# %0t it is in raising the personality into
i-personality1 the ego into divinity1 the corr0ptible into the incorr0ptible1 that consists the
.hole e//ort and p0rpose and ai- o/ the divine part o/ evol0tion; and that divine part1 that
partic0lar activity1 is that o/ the higher range o/ the l0-ino0s arc1 o/ the b0ddhic hierarchy1 o/
.hich the s0--it is the dhyani'b0ddhas1 the b0ddhas o/ conte-plation; and the -aterial on
.hich they .or2 is these other -onads1 so0ls1 ato-s1 .hich /or- the -atter'side o/ nat0re1
called the shado.y arc#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that all these things have been all0ded to by 0s be/ore; b0t tonight
re-e-ber this one i-portant point1 that the -onad does not @descend into -atter#@ $t casts
/orth /ro- itsel/ its li/e1 as the s0n po0rs /orth it! vitality in rays; and its li/e -ani/ests /irst as a
-onadic entity o/ in/erior grade1 as a so0l; and the so0l in its t0rn po0rs /orth its vitality1
-ani/esting in al-ost inn0-erable ato-s# The -onad itsel/ is b0t one o/ inn0-erable others1
e-anated1 cast /orth1 breathed /orth1 i/ yo0 li2e to 0se an 4riental -etaphor1 /ro- %rah-a1
the god1 the s0--it o/ o0r hierarchy#
,s said1 these gar-ents or sheaths o/ light are those -onadic entities .hich -0st1 d0ring the
co0rse o/ evol0tionary progress1 beco-e denser1 dar2er1 thic2ened1 .ith the passage o/ ti-e1
0ntil the 0lti-ate res0lt is the last energy1 the last e3pendit0re o/ the divine or -onadic /orce
as -ani/ested in the physical body# :hen eI0ilibri0- bet.een -atter and spirit is /inally
reached1 .hen the lo.est point in that 2alpa1 i#e#1 in that =ay o/ %rah-a1 in that period o/
seven ro0nds1 has been reached1 then step in 0pon the scene the -anasap0tras1 the sons o/
-ind1 entities /ro- the b0ddhic hierarchy1 /ro- the l0-ino0s are o/ evolving nat0re1 those
.ho had been -en be/ore in /or-er 2alpas1 and .ho have .atched over 0s1 0nder the
g0idance o/ the Silent :atcher1 their s0pre-e Aead1 ever since o0r present 2alpa or
-anvantara began1 aeons ago#
The -onad1 in one sense1 -ay be called the active god o/ the hierarchy; or1 in -an8s especial
case1 -an8s divine ego1 sheathed in its gar-ents o/ light co-posed o/ in/erior -onadic
entities called so0ls; and the so0l -ay be called an in/erior -onad1 part o/ the sheaths or the
gar-ents o/ the -onad proper# These respective gar-ents are cast /orth1 so-e.hat as the
tree p0ts /orth its leaves1 its branches1 its ste-s1 its /r0its# Si-ilarly the ato-s are born /ro-
the pranic or vital essence o/ the so0ls1 and they /or- o0r bodies# So .e see that every -an1
in his in-ost essence ? that is1 in-ost /or the hierarchy to .hich he belongs ? is a divine
being1 a god; and his spirit0al nat0re is the -onad; and his so0l'nat0re is the ego1 that
partic0lar entity hovering bet.een the pit and the s0n1 .hich -0st be raised /ro- personality
into i-personality1 beca0se in the so0l resides that partic0lar part o/ the psychological
processes o/ intellection .hich -a2es a -an sel/'conscio0s1 a !el"'conscio0s being1 capable
o/ the ideation o/ individ0aliDed being#
:hat .onder/0l tho0ghts are theseK Ao. they do 0pli/t the so0lK 7an /eels his native divinity1
his interior spirit0al strength; he /eels the po.er o/ divinity .ithin his o.n heart1 the po.er /or
goodness and tr0th# ,nd ho. s-all1 ho. insigni/icant1 ho. 0n.orthy1 see- those things that
lie apart /ro- the path o/ d0ty1 o/ rightK
Ao. -any have been h0ngry /or tr0th1 and have searched /or it1 and yet have /o0nd only the
h0s2s o/ a pse0do'esotericis-; %0t the& al!o !hould ha4e it+ A0-an beings1 they have a
right to it; b0t they are not going to get it 0nless they @.or2 /or it1@ /or s0ch is the archaic la.#
These teachings have /or-ed the reward/ the re.ard o/ those .ho have been /aith/0l#
There is one s0b>ect .hich /or certain reasons -0st no. be to0ched 0pon brie/ly# $t is a
s0b>ect .hich has been deliberately avoided by -e hitherto /or obvio0s reasons; $ re/er to the
-atter o/ se3# ,t o0r present stage o/ st0dy1 it is necessary then to point o0t that -an at a
certain /or-er period o/ his evol0tion .as .itho0t se31 .as se3less1 and also that in the ne3t
co-ing root'race1 the si3th root'race1 he .ill be .itho0t se3 as .e no. 0nderstand it# Se3 is
b0t a passing phase in evol0tionary develop-ent1 and has no -ore val0e in one sense1 to
-an1 than an evil drea- has to a -an 0nder certain conditions# &at0re has /ollo.ed that line1
as it .ere1 0nder protest1 thro0gh the evildoing involved in o0r past 2ar-a1 as the only .ay by
.hich so0ls can /ind incarnation at present; b0t as the race gro.s in spirit0al strength and in
spirit0al 2no.ledge1 and loo2s .ith closer sel/'analysis into its o.n inner being1 children .ill
co-e into the .orld .itho0t /athers; and /ro- being at /irst an 0nheard o/ pheno-enon1 and
pres0-ably to be called a portent or a prodigy .hen it /irst appears1 this proced0re o/
generation .ill beco-e the nat0ral co0rse o/ things in the si3th root'race# 40r present
se30ally separated -en and .o-en1 the present -ethod o/ generation o/ h0-an beings1 o/
ani-als1 and o/ so-e plants1 .ill1 in those /ar distant ti-es o/ the /0t0re1 be no -ore#
$n concl0sion5 yo0 have heard o/ the ancient 7ysteries1 and o/ the doctrine o/ the @virginal
birth#@ %eginning .ith the /o0rth degree or stage o/ initiation1 the /0t0re .as o0tlined in the
ancient 7ysteries to the candidate both by teaching and -ore especially by ca0sing the
candidate hi-sel/ to %a!! through .hat .as to co-e to pass in the /0t0re ages o/ racial
develop-ent; that is to say1 the initiant had to go through/ to li4e through/ .hat the race .as
to live thro0gh /or the ne3t t.o root'races# revio0s to the /o0rth degree1 he .as ta0ght .hat
the race had already been thro0gh1 with allu!ion! to the "uture+ :hen .e read1 there/ore1 o/
the @virgin birth@ o/ 6hrist1 /or instance1 it is tr0e that this has its religio0s e3planation1 its
philosophical e3planation1 its -ystical e3planation1 etc#; b0t it has also its physiological
e3planation# No0 .ill re-e-ber .hat A# # %lavats2y says abo0t the seven 2eys .hich
belong to and open each one o/ these in-ost seven/old -ysteries1 o/ .hich t.o .ere held as
partic0larly secret5 the physiological1 and the spirit0al# The physiological 2ey to this aspect o/
the 7ystery'teaching .as1 as said1 that the initiant had to sy-boliDe in his person and had
to %a!! through or li4e through what wa! coing8 and he .as there/ore said1 in vie. o/ the
/0t0re racial action along the lines o/ generation1 to have been @born /ro- a virgin#@
$t is a co-/orting thing1 especially in the present stage o/ the .orld .hen h0-anity is doing its
best to thro. o// the shac2les o/ ,tlantean and 9e-0rian sin !i/ .e -ay 0se this .ord"1 i#e#1 to
thro. o// the horrible 2ar-a .hich holds the .orld in its evil grip1 to 2no. the ca0ses .hich
bro0ght it to be# This gives 0s 2no.ledge and po.er to ste- this strea- o/ h0-an sin and
-isery# ,nd1 /inally1 those .ho .ill not accept the tr0th and .or2 .ith the 9a.1 certainly1 as
Ees0s -ight have said1 .ill not @sit at -y table .ith -e .hen $ parta2e o/ the .ine o/ the spirit
in the Ao0se o/ -y Father#@ @Those .ho have ears to hear and to 0nderstand1 let the- hear@
? and be wi!eJ
hapter Thirty-One
The %0ilding o/ the <os-os# The Sa-e F0nda-ental 9a. thro0gho0t 9i/e and
%eing5 an Endless 9adder o/ rogress# ,nalogical rocesses o/
<os-ical and sychological =evelop-ent# The River o/ 9i/e#
,nd by the circ0lations o/ the so0l being -erged in a pro/o0nd river and i-pet0o0sly
borne along1 .e -0st 0nderstand by the river1 not the h0-an body alone1 b0t the .hole o/
generation !.ith .hich .e are e3ternally s0rro0nded" thro0gh its s.i/t and 0nstable
/lo.ing# For th0s1 says rocl0s1 lato in the Rep0blic calls the .hole o/ generated nat0re
the river o/ 9ethe1 .hich contains both 9ethe and the -eado. o/ ,te1 according to
E-pedocles; the devo0ring >a.s o/ -atter and the light'hating .orld1 as it is called by the
gods; and the .inding rivers 0nder .hich -any are dra.n do.n1 as the oracles assert#
%0t by the circ0lations o/ the so0l the cogitative and opiniative po.ers are signi/ied; the
/or-er o/ .hich1 thro0gh the so0l8s con>0nction .ith the body1 is i-peded in its energies1
and the latter is Titanically torn in pieces 0nder the irrational li/e# ? Tho-as Taylor1
@$ntrod0ction to the Ti-ae0s@
$n conseI0ence o/ a reasoning process1 there/ore1 he /o0nd that a-ong the things
nat0rally visible1 there .as nothing the .hole o/ .hich i/ void o/ intelligence co0ld ever
beco-e -ore bea0ti/0l than the .hole o/ that .hich is end0ed .ith intellect5 and at the
sa-e ti-e he discovered1 that it .as i-possible /or intellect to accede to any being1
.itho0t the intervention o/ so0l# Aence1 as the res0lt o/ this reasoning1 placing intellect in
so0l and so0l in body1 he /abricated the 0niverse; that th0s it -ight be a .or2 nat0rally the
-ost bea0ti/0l and the best# $n this -anner1 there/ore1 according to an assi-ilative
reason1 it is necessary to call the .orld Lor 0niverseM an ani-al1 end0ed .ith intellect1 and
generated thro0gh the providence o/ divinity# ? lato1 Tiaeu! !Tho-as Taylor1 trans#"
$& EP9,&,T$4& o/ .hat .as said in the /inal part o/ o0r -eeting last .ee25 the idea o/
bringing in the s0b>ect1 .hich .as then so lightly to0ched 0pon1 .as to connect it .ith the
general sche-e o/ evol0tionary develop-ent that .e shall later have to st0dy -ore /0lly1 and
to sho. that thro0gho0t the entire 0niverse o/ beings there r0ns one general plan#
No0 all 2no.1 o/ co0rse1 that there are seven races all told on this planet1 in this ro0nd on
globe =1 and that each o/ these races has its o.n continent1 /ollo.s its o.n co0rse o/
evol0tion1 has bodies ? that is1 the individ0al 0nits o/ the race have bodies ? coordinated to
and in har-ony .ith the physical s0rro0ndings in .hich they live# %0t as regards the I0estion
o/ the division o/ the h0-an racial strea-1 that is1 the later third root'race1 into the se30al
h0-anity .hich has evolved into the -en and .o-en o/ today1 the point to be e-phasiDed at
present is that .hat .e call se3 is b0t a passing phase in racial evol0tion and1 strictly
spea2ing1 is not nor-al to -an2ind on globe = o/ o0r planetary chain# This -ethod o/
procreation act0ally .as copied /ro- the beasts1 .hich @separated@ be/ore @-an#@ lease
0nderstand this clearly5 se3 is a transitory phase in racial evol0tion1 and has no -ore
i-portance than that; and /0rther1 as .e are no. evolving on the ascending arc1 as .e have
already passed in /act beyond the /irst steps o/ the l0-ino0s arc1 o/ the arc o/ ascent1 .e
shall /ind as the ages pass that o0r present physiological stat0s as -en and .o-en is to be
o0tgro.n# ,s a -atter o/ /act1 the ,tlantean and ,tlanto'9e-0rian 2ar-a has .eighed so
heavily 0pon 0s1 the /i/th race1 that .e are act0ally belated1 and have not at the present date1
the -iddle point o/ the /i/th race1 reached that stage as regards the evolving o/ the physical
body .hich other.ise .e sho0ld have reached#
,s it stands1 ho.ever1 the teaching tells 0s that at the end o/ o0r o.n /i/th race1 -en and
.o-en .ill be disappearing as opposite se3es; and that by the -iddle o/ the si3th root'race
!the race to co-e" -en and .o-en as separate se3es shall be no longer# The race .ill
consist o/ beings .ho are physiologically neither -en nor .o-en; and1 as hinted >0st no.1
the /irst e3a-ples o/ parthenogenetic reprod0ction are already d0e1 and .o0ld have sho.n
the-selves already1 .ere it not /or o0r being belated by the heavy .eight o/ o0r ,tlantean
2ar-a1 .hich .e have been carrying1 or rather .or2ing o//#
,bo0t the -iddle o/ the si3th race h0-anity ? then no longer @-en@ and @.o-en1@ b0t
h0-anity ? .ill procreate their 2ind1 i/ .e can here properly 0se this .ord1 at any rate .ill
evolve or give birth to their o.n gen0s1 by a process si-ilar to that .hich too2 place in the
early third race1 a process called in the esoteric .isdo- @creating sons by passive yoga@; that
is to say1 by -editation and by uncon!ciou! .ill1 at /irst1 later to be s0cceeded
by con!ciou! .ill in the seventh or /ollo.ing root'race# The h0-ans o/ that period !the si3th
root'race" .ill prod0ce children by -editation and by .ill; d0ring the seventh root'race1 the
last to co-e on this globe1 d0ring this /o0rth ro0nd ? a race .hich to 0s no. .o0ld see-
glorio0s ? the h0-ans o/ that race .ill prod0ce their 2ind in the sa-e general -anner1 b0t
by con!ciou!l& e@erci!ed .ill and -editation1 yet still -ore i-personally and still -ore
ethereally than the si3th race .ill do# The si3th .ill do so1 -0ch as the /lo.ers gro. /ro- the
plants1 al-ost 0nconscio0sly as it .ere1 hence by @passive yoga@; not so -0ch 0nconscio0sly
/ro- the -ental standpoint b0t physiologically al-ost 0nconscio0s o/ any @procreative@ act1 or
o/ any creative act# The seventh .ill @create@ their o//spring .ith conscio0s and /0lly active
i-agination1 a /orce called 2ri&a!a2ti in Sans2rit# The di//ic0lty is in /inding .ords to e3plain
so-ething .hich to 0s o/ the /i/th root'race is none3istent1 al-ost1 and hence spec0lative or
0nreal#
The -ain point then1 here1 is to realiDe that this present physiological state o/ se3 is a
passing racial evol0tionary phase; and that every ab0se1 every -is0se1 no -atter o/ .hat
2ind or .hat the .orld -ay thin2 abo0t it1 is a reaction contrary to the evol0tionary la.1 to 0se
the pop0lar phraseology; and that .hile it is tr0e that the present -ethod is the one .hich
nat0re has evolved at the present ti-e1 as said be/ore it is not really the -ethod .hich
pri-ordial h0-anity -ight have /ollo.ed# Even the Aebre. %ible all0des to this -atter in a
passage .hich yo0 all -ay recall# :e o/ the /i/th race no. are on the ascending arc1 and .e
sho0ld at least atte-pt to lead the race to.ards a nobler li/e as pioneers o/ nat0re8s
/orthco-ing stages#
40r -ain the-e tonight is the b0ilding o/ the 2os-os1 the b0ilding o/ .orlds1 and the b0ilding
o/ -an# Thro0gho0t the vast e3tent o/ -ani/ested being1 there prevail /0nda-ental operations
o/ nat0re1 .hich -en today call the la.s o/ nat0re beca0se they do not 0nderstand their
origin# 7en personi/y nat0re1 .hich is a -ere generaliDing ter-; and they 0se the .ord la. ?
.hich is -erely a .ord adapted /ro- h0-an action ? in order to give a na-e to those
/0nda-ental -ove-ents o/ being# %0t there areoperations o/ nat0re1 and these /0nda-ental
operations o/ nat0re are act0ally the li/e'c0rrents in the spirit0al essence governing o0r
hierarchy1 as the li/e'c0rrents in -an are they .hich govern the ato-s1 astral and physical1
.hich co-pose his body#
Re-e-ber that !%ace is not a vac00-1 space is not a -ere container; i/ so1 there .o0ld
have to be a container o/ that container1 and so ad in/init0-# %0t space is the in"inite "ullne!!
o" e4er&thing; it is the bo0ndless ,ll1 .itho0t beginning and .itho0t end; it is one vast
organis-; it is a 0nity; everything is interloc2ed and interchained .ith everything else1 and
thro0gh all there r0ns the one 0niversal li/e; there is the beating o/ the one 0niversal heart#
This tho0ght is so i-portant /or a proper 0nderstanding o/ o0r philosophy that its repetition
s0rely .ill be /orgiven# There are no vac00-'separations1 there is no absol0te division
any.here# There is no real vac00-; everything is /0ll1 everything is /0ll .ith and o/ beings;
and these beings .ith .hich the bo0ndless ,ll is /illed are !%ace it!el"+ There/ore1 .hen .e
spea2 o/ space1 .e -ean not -erely the vast1 bo0ndless e3tension o/ any one plane1 b0t
-ore partic0larly the invisible spheres1 the planes .ithin1 ascending1 as it .ere1 going
in.ards1 and in.ards1 and in.ards /orever; and o0t.ards li2e.ise#
The ne3t tho0ght is that thro0gh the action and interaction o/ the gods1 -onads1 so0ls1 and
ato-s1 .e conceive a .orld as springing /orth in the beginning o/ its -anvantara1 /ro- and
thro0gh the invisible deeps o/ space1 and e3tending itsel/1 as it .ere1 casting itsel/1 pro>ecting
itsel/1 /or.ard1 in its descent do.n the shado.y arc o/ -atter'-ani/estation# ,nd ho.; &ot by
a so-ething or a so-ebody .hich e3isted be/ore itsel/ .as there1 b0t by -a2ing itsel/ its o.n
.orld1 evolving o0t its o.n 2os-os1 .hich th0s beco-es its gar-ent or body#
The gods ? and please do not thin2 o/ h0-an /or-s .hen .e spea2 o/ the gods; .e -ean
the ar0pa1 the /or-less1 entities1 beings o/ p0re intelligence and o/ 0nderstanding1 p0re
essences1 p0re spirits1 /or-less as .e conceive /or- ? thro0gh that i-personal !and -ay .e
say inevitable;" energy1 at any rate1 by reason o/ the 2ar-ic i-p0lses behind the-1 pro>ect
/ro- the-selves less bodies1 in/erior bodies1 .hich are the -onads; and the -onads do
precisely li2e.ise and pro>ect the so0ls; and the so0ls do precisely li2e.ise and pro>ect the
ato-s# Each springs /ro- each# Thro0gh all1 /0rther-ore1 there r0ns the bo0ndless sel/1 the
bo0ndless so0l o/ the 0pper real-s; b0t each one o/ these ato-s1 each one o/ these so0ls1
each one o/ these -onads1 each one o/ these gods1 is its o.n hierarchy1 the s0pre-e part1
the head1 the seed1 /ro- .hich its o.n /ollo.ing hierarchy springs# :heels .ithin .heels1
lives .ithin lives1 conscio0snesses .ithin conscio0snesses1 beings .ithin beings ? a vast and
endless congeries o/ interloc2ed and interrelated and interliving things# ray get this tho0ghtK
$t is the very /o0ndation o/ the ancient .isdo-# ,ll I0estions o/ theology that have so
e-barrassed and perple3ed the -inds o/ -en are solved >0st by these /e. si-ple principles
o/ the ancient .isdo-'religion# Thin2 0pon the- /or yo0rselves1 and -a2e yo0r o.n
ded0ctions there/ro-#
&o. let 0s brie/ly /ollo. the evol0tionary co0rse o/ one hierarchy1 one solar syste-# The
sa-e la.1 i/ yo0 li2e the .ord1 the sa-e "undaental o%eration o" nature1 r0ns thro0gh all
that .hich .e /ind done in the case o/ a solar syste-1 and is also that .hich ta2es place in
the case o/ a 0niverse1 is that .hich ta2es place in the case o/ a s0n1 o/ a planet1 and o/ the
beings .hich overr0n that planet# S0ppose then that .e /ig0rate a god1 a divine seven'
principled being1 starting into activity a/ter its pralayic sleep1 bringing .ith it the 2ar-ic seeds1
the i-p0lses /ro- the previo0s -aha'-anvantara1 every one o/ those seeds having its
2ar-ic s.abhava1 its 2ar-ic characteristic or essential nat0re; and starting into i--ediate
activity .hen the li/e'.ave /irst aro0ses the sleeping spheres all co-prised .ithin the one
i--ense entity .hich .e have agreed to call a god# :e do not e3actly -ean .hat the
Aind0s call a deva1 .hich is so-ething else1 b0t a god# %0t not 'od1 not the 6hristian Bod#
:e -ean a god1 one o/ the s0pre-e intelligences1 each one o/ .hich is the head o/ a
hierarchy1 the hierarchies the-selves being n0-berless and @/illing space1@ being1 in /act1
space itsel/#
:e si-ply -0st 2eep several ideas in o0r heads at once in essaying an e3position o/ these
intricate s0b>ects# There is one o/ the secrets o/ 0nderstanding the ancient .isdo-5 to retain
in the -ind -ore than one conception at the sa-e ti-e; it is o0r sa/eg0ard against -ental
biases1 and it is easy# 9et -e ill0strate5 a -an is driving an a0to-obile; he -ay be at the
sa-e ti-e .atching the road1 .atching /or other a0to-obiles1 .hile in the bac2 o/ his -ind
there -ay be /or-ing so-e plan o/ .or2; and he -ay also be tal2ing to a /riend# 9et 0s 2eep
these vario0s tho0ghts1 all that has been spo2en o/ so /ar this evening1 in o0r -ind1 as .e
consider this present -atter#
&o. this god is seven'principled1 as said1 and each principle has its o.n .or2 to do in the
b0ilding o/ its 2os-os; each one acts according to 2ar-ic i-p0lses originating in the previo0s
-anvantara partic0larly1 and in all previo0s -anvantaras in general; and each one o/ these
gods -oves into -ani/estation according to the lines traced o0t /or it by its o.n past
conscio0sness and actions in /or-er epochs o/ -anvantaric activity# There/ore .hen these
seeds o/ beings start into active e3istence1 the inn0-erable -onads or divine so0ls ? divine
seeds .hich /or- the clothing o/ each one o/ these seven principles ? .hen all these
principles spring into activity each 0nderta2es its o.n partic0lar .or21 a division o/ labor1 as it
.ere1 in the divine real-s# First1 the highest sends /orth /ro- itsel/ a host o/ less beings1
in/erior beings; and they /ind their habitat1 their habitation and their real- o/ activity1 in the
plane ne3t @belo.1@ .hich is that o/ its second principle# That second principle then begins its
o.n especial activity and does li2e.ise; and th0s t.o o/ the seven principles and real-s o/
being are no. .or2ing; and so on do.n the scale 0ntil .e reach the lo.est1 the prithivi'
tatt.a1 o/ the divine series or scale#
:hen the astrono-er loo2s into the ethery spaces and sees those starry clo0ds1 those
neb0lo0s -asses1 in so-e cases ? tho0gh not in all1 /or these neb0lae are not all the sa-e ?
in those .hich are destined /or the beginning o/ .orlds1 he sees there .hat has so /ar ta2en
place in -aterial -ani/estation o/ a hierarchy thro0gh the activity o/ the s0bseven degrees o/
the lo.est or seventh principle o/ a divine entity or god in/or-ing an other.ise invisible li/e'
center1 in/or-ed by that god8s vital essence1 .hich is the /0nda-ental li/e o/ that hierarchy1
the /0nda-ental i-p0lse1 or .hat -en call the /0nda-ental la.1 the /0nda-ental operation o/
its nat0re1 the /0nda-ental characteristic1 the s.abhava# $n s0ch -anner1 then1 the vital
essence creates its o.n d.elling ? a s0n1 a planet1 .hich cycles do.n1 as it .ere1 into visible
evol0tion# %0t -ar25 each head o/ a hierarchy retains its o.n place1 po.ers1 and nat0re; b0t
its o//spring thic2en or condense1 its o//spring th0s /or-ing its gar-ents on the several planes
o/ being# Each o/ these gar-ents is a host o/ living beings1 ato-s1 so0ls ? the na-e -atters
little provided .e 0nderstand the tho0ght# :e -0st 0se analogies derived /ro- o0r h0-an
vocab0lary1 beca0se .e have as yet evolved no .ords .hich can adeI0ately e3plain these
spirit0al things; there/ore re-e-ber that by the la. o/ analogy s0ch .ords are
applicable1 utati! utandi!/ as the 9atin phrase goes1 @-a2ing the necessary allo.ances
/or circ0-stances1@ to vario0s spheres o/ being#
:hen this thic2ening and grossening o/ the /abric ? .hich ta2es place /ro- each entity
shooting /orth /ro- itsel/1 e-anating /ro- itsel/1 other less entities1 less here -eaning in/erior
? reaches its lo.est degree1 then .e have a s0n and planets# 9et 0s ta2e o0r planet as an
instance# :hen s0ch a planet has reached its lo.est point o/ evol0tion driven by the 2ar-ic
i-p0lse inhering in it1 .hich is at the -iddle point o/ its /o0rth ro0nd !.hich .e on o0r planet
have passed"1 then begins the reaction1 the reversal o/ the 2os-ic operation1 and the li/e'
c0rrents begin to .ithdra. in.ards1 thence/orth /ollo.ing the l0-ino0s arc @0p.ards@5 not
leaving its gar-ents behind altogether1 b0t as they .ere sent /orth1 so are they no.
.ithdra.n in.ards# This1 then1 is an o0tline o/ the process o/ the e4olution o" !%irit/and
the in4olution o" atter8 >0st as the processes o/ pro>ection or casting /orth .ere
the in4olution o" !%irit and the e4olution o" atter on the do.n.ard or shado.y arc# Th0s is
the 2os-os b0ilt#
&o. another tho0ght# Each one o/ these gods1 each one o/ these -onads1 each one o/ these
so0ls1 each one o/ these ato-s1 is an e3ha0stless reservoir o/ conscio0sness1 o/ /orce1 and
o/ -atter# 9et 0s ta2e the at-ic !or seventh or highest" o/ the god .ho- .e have chosen as
e3a-ple# S0ch at-ic plane or sphere is a laya'center# , laya'center is a nirvanic center1 that
part1 or place1 or condition rather1 or state o/ being1 .here ho-ogeneity o/ s0bstance is1
.here heterogeneity has ceased1 or has not yet beg0n# :hen s0ch laya'center begins its
activity to.ards evol0tion1 it casts /orth /ro- itsel/ ceaselessly1 hosts and -0ltit0des o/ these
in/erior beings; b0t its o.n inner strength is in no.ise di-inished#
$t is1 as said1 an e3ha0stless reservoir1 a creative center; precisely as the s0n ? one o/ the
/inest analogies that .e have ? casts /orth /ro- itsel/ ceaselessly1 d0ring a -anvantara1
practically illi-itable hosts o/ solar rays1 yes1 and also o/ beings# Each one o/ these beings
has its /0t0re cyclic co0rse to r0n; and /ro- being originally an 0nconscio0s god'spar21 it has
to develop into a !el"1con!ciou! god/ and do the sa-e 2os-ic .or2 that its o.n great
progenitor did or is doing#
:e o0rselves1 .hen .e .ere not -en as yet1 0nevolved rays only1 belonged to the lo.er
real-s o/ spirit0al being1 then p0rs0ed o0r evol0tionary co0rse 0p to sel/'conscio0s
-anhood; and .e .ho are no. h0-ans are destined on the /0t0re planet .hich shall /ollo.
this o0r present globe ? the o//spring o/ the earth ? to attain a develop-ent greater than
-anhood here; and those in/erior lives .hich are no. trailing a/ter 0s on the evol0tionary
>o0rney1 the beasts1 the plants1 and the -inerals1 .ill have then their t0rn to pass thro0gh the
h0-an stage# 9i/e and being /or- an endless chain1 an endless ladder o/ progress; yet .hen
-anhood has been attained co-es -oral responsibility5 at any -o-ent there lies the path
be/ore 0s ? the path to the right1 0p the l0-ino0s arc; or the path to the le/t1 do.n.ards along
the arc o/ shado.s#
40r ti-e this evening is dra.ing to a close1 b0t it is necessary /or 0s to call attention to the
/ollo.ing diagra-5
Aere .e have si3 col0-ns representing analogical cases o/ cos-ical and psychological
develop-ent# First1 .e have .hat .e -ay call the Esoteric 9ine5 to the le/t o/ that .e have
placed the n0-bers 11 21 31 *1 (1 C1 71 +1 91 1)1 representing the /0ll hierarchy o/ ten stages or
degrees# The ne3t col0-n gives the %rah-anic Tatt.as# Tattwa is a Sans2rit .ord1 .hich
-ay be translated as @ele-ent1@ -eaning the s0bstantial @reality@ bac2 o/ the pheno-enal
appearance1 0pon .hich the seed'conscio0sness .or2s; the gar-ent or bearer o/ the
in.or2ing conscio0sness# Then co-e in the ne3t col0-n the Ele-ents1 as co--only
0nderstood every.here in ancient ti-es# Then co-es the 7ystic Bree2 syste-1 as /o0nd
-ostly in the &eoplatonic and &eopythagorean philosophies# ,nd lastly co-es the division o/
the beings co-posing the evolving li/e'.ave1 or river o/ li/e1 into t.o generic !general" /or-s1
=hyani'6hohans1 and itris#
1. $n the Esoteric 9ine .e have /irst !wa6ha4at/ a Sans2rit .ord -eaning1 as yo0 2no.1 the
@sel/'evolving1@ the @sel/'developing1@ even translated so-eti-es as the @sel/'e3istent#@
6orresponding to this is the adi'tatt.a in the ne3t col0-n# )di is a Sans2rit .ord -eaning
@original1@ @pri-ordial#@ 6orresponding to this a-ong the ele-ents is the 4ne# :e have no
.ord /or this ele-ent# The ancients re/erred to it in vario0s .ays# :e .ill si-ply call it the
4ne1 as it is the seed /ro- .hich the others spring in descent1 that is to say1 in thic2ening and
grossening d0ring the evol0tionary co0rse# The 7ystic Bree2 has the First 9ogos to
correspond#
2. The planes belo. are ne3t given1 reading /ro- le/t to right# )di16uddhi1 @original or
pri-ordial b0ddhi@; and .hen the tho0ght is so-e.hat changed1 and a slightly di//erent
hierarchy is to be /ollo.ed1 it is called adi'b0ddha1 individ0aliDing the hierarchy in tracing the
develop-ent o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 tho0gh .hen .e spea2 o/ adi'b0ddhi1 .e re/er
rather to the action o/ the principles than to the entities e-bodying those principles#
6orresponding to it in the Tatt.as is anu%a%ada2a1tattwa/another Sans2rit .ord -eaning
@arentless1@ that .hich does not /ollo. an individ0aliDed progenitor1 there/ore parentless1 not
that it has no so0rce or origin1 b0t that it itsel/ is the pri-al seed o/ indi4idualit&1 .hich in this
partic0lar hierarchy /irst springs into -ani/estation in it# The case is li2e the entrance o/ the
-anas into -an1 thereby giving hi- sel/'conscio0sness and individ0ality1 .hich he does not
get /ro- his parents# ,-ong the Ele-ents .e -ay call it spirit# The 7ystic Bree2 has it as
the Second 9ogos#
3. The third plane belo. is the gods1 corresponding o/ co0rse to the -anasap0tras in -an1
the sons o/ -ind# $ts tatt.a is a2asa'tatt.a1 the .ord a2a!a -eaning @brilliant1@ @shining1@
@l0-ino0s#@ 9et -e point o0t here parenthetically that1 strictly spea2ing1 s.abhavat is the
proper correspondence o/ a2asa; b0t the .ay in .hich this diagra- is arranged is an atte-pt
to sho. corresponding intelligences and activities in the several individ0al hierarchies here
set /orth; and there/ore a2asa'tatt.a corresponds in it to the gods in the Esoteric 9ine#
,-ong the Ele-ents it is aether1 b0t not the ether o/ science# The ether o/ science is -erely
one o/ its lo.er principles# The 7ystic Bree2 has li2e.ise the gods1 other.ise co-posing the
Third 9ogos# $n %rah-anic philosophy this plane is calledahat1 a .ord .hich -eans @great#@
7ahat is a technical ter- in the %rah-anic syste-1 and is the Father'7other o/ -anas; it is
the @-other@ o/ the -anasap0tras or sons o/ -ind1 i/ yo0 li2e1 or that ele-ent /ro- .hich they
spring1 that ele-ent .hich they breathe and o/ .hich they are the children#
4. The -onads1 corresponding to taiAa!a1tattwa/ -eaning @the shining1@ @the brilliant1@ @the
/iery1@ @the spar2ling#@ ,-ong the Ele-ents it is /ire# The 7ystic Bree2 has the dai-ones
corresponding to it1 beings .ho- the 6hristians have t0rned into de-ons or devils# $t si-ply
-eans spirit0al beings o/ a certain class; b0t this tho0ght is too intricate to go into at any
length this evening# $ -ay -erely point o0t that the dai-ones belong to the hierarchy o/
conscio0sness1 as sho.n in the diagra-1 and not to the hierarchy o/ the shado.y arc#
Socrates1 as yo0 2no.1 /reI0ently all0ded to his daionion1 -eaning his @g0ardian angel#@
,s he said5 @7y dae-on told -e never .hat to do1 b0t al.ays .hat to re/rain /ro- doing#@ $t
is1 as it .ere1 the @conscience@ o/ later tho0ght#
&o. these /o0r classes are gro0ped 0nder the general heading o/ the =hyani'chohans1 the
chohans o/ -editation1 the lords o/ -editation# The /ollo.ing three classes belong to the
itris ? beings o/ lo.er degree1 .ho- yo0 .ill re-e-ber as -entioned in The Secret
Doctrine and there called @Fathers1@ beca0se they are -ore partic0larly the act0al progenitors
o/ o0r lo.er principles; .hereas the dhyani'chohans are act0ally in one -ost i-portant sense
o0r o.n !el4e!+ :e .ere born /ro- the-; .e .ere the -onads1 .e .ere the ato-s1 the
so0ls1 pro>ected1 sent /orth1 e-anated1 by the dhyanis1 as pointed o0t be/ore#
(# &o. the /i/th degree do.n.ard co-prises in thi! %articular diagra.hat are called so0ls in
the Esoteric 9ine# $n the %rah-anic Tatt.as .e see vay0'tatt.a# :a&u -eans @airy1@ @aerial#@
$n the Ele-ents1 air; in the 7ystic Bree21 the heroes# These are the highest class o/ the
itris#
C# The si3th are the ato-s# lease re-e-ber1 as said be/ore1 that ato- as here 0sed does
not -ean the ato- o/ science1 b0t .hat .e -ay call the astral -onad1 o/ .hich the ato-s o/
the physical .orld are the e-anations1 the pro>ections# The ato-s1 the astral ato-s1 clothe
the-selves in the physical .orld1 .hich is their gar-ent'o//spring# The %rah-anic Tatt.a is
apas'tatt.a; the Ele-ents sho. here .ater; and the 7ystic Bree21 -en#
7# The seventh is the bodies1 vehicles -erely1 corresponding to prithivi'tatt.a# $rithi4i is a
Sans2rit .ord -eaning @e3tension1@ i#e#1 .ide1 spacio0s# $t is co--on to spea2 o/ pra2riti as
@-atter1@ b0t really prithivi is the .ord better corresponding to .hat .e call -atter# ra2riti is
rather @nat0re@ and the living gar-ent o/ spirit# The Ele-ent is earth; and the 7ystic Bree2 in
this hierarchy o/ entities sho.s the beasts#
These last three classes are the itris; and belo. these seven co-es the Ele-ental :orld1 in
three planes# 4ne o/ these ele-ental planes or .orlds .e -ay -ention in passing1 as it is
the @interior real-@ .hich has its loc0s or habitation at the center o/ any globe#
&o. the evol0tion o/ -an2ind depends 0pon and /ollo.s that o/ the respective ele-ents in
each instance ? that is to say1 that the h0-an li/e'.ave evolves in each o/ the seven
ele-ents one a/ter the other1 /ro- the highest do.n.ards to the last; and then on the t0rn o/
the grand cycle1 ascending thro0gh the- all to the highest again# Each globe o/ the seven o/
the planetary chain1 each o/ the seven root'races on every globe1 parta2es o/ the nat0re and
I0alities o/ the 2os-ic ele-ent it happens to be evolving in and thro0gh1 .hether it be .hat
is technically called earth1 or .ater1 or air1 or /ire1 or aether1 or spirit1 or the &a-eless 4ne#
7an8s seven principles li2e.ise correspond to and are derived /ro- the seven 2os-ic
ele-ents1 each to each# ,nd -ere b0l2 o/ body1 or siDe1 has nothing to do .ith the nat0re o/
-an and his po.ers1 .ith the b0ilding o/ -an1 or his destiny#
For instance1 the /irst and second root'races .ere gigantic beings as /ar as -ere siDe .as
concerned1 b0t they .ere other.ise -ere shells1 -ere phanto- creat0res1 so to say1 the
o//spring o/ the pitris alone1 as yet not /illed .ith the divine /ires o/ sel/'conscio0sness and
intellect# They .ere ethereal on .hat .as then an ethereal earth1 o0r present gross planet
Terra# They had no physiological organs1 properly spea2ing1 and their shapes .ere di//erent
/ro- o0rs1 altho0gh the general h0-an s2eletal /ra-e.or2 as .e no. 2no. it .as .ithin
the-1 evolved /ro- the previo0s ro0nd on this earth#
$n races the /i/th and the si3th still to co-e1 h0-anity .ill evolve bodies corresponding to the
s0rro0ndings they .ill then be in; and1 in very tr0th1 those s0rro0ndings the-selves .ill be
developed or -ade by the h0-anity evolving therein1 act0ally evolving their o.n
s0rro0ndings1 .hich .ill be their o.n e-anations# :e -ay conceive o/ the-1 i/ yo0 li2e1 as
very s-all beings1 lillip0tian in siDe1 perhaps1 b0t nevertheless o/ gigantic intellects1 and o/
i--ense spirit0al po.ers# $/ .e .ill only once realiDe1 as even o0r scientists are beginning to
do1 the al-ost li-itless /orces loc2ed 0p in an ato- ? a thing so s-all that it as yet is -erely
a /ig-ent o/ the scienti/ic i-agination1 .hich no one has ever seen1 or 2no.s anything abo0t
e3cept certain ded0ctions .hich have been -ore or less grad0ally -ade by st0dying the
.or2ings o/ the ato-s thro0gh the physical pheno-ena o/ beings ? .e can realiDe that i/
even physical -atter contains /orces or po.ers as great as even one ato- has1 .hat -ay
not -an be or beco-e1 0pon evolving that .hich is .ithin hi-sel/1 evolving the 0nspea2able
grande0r o/ his inner nat0re1 as he is going to do ? at least those .ho .ill pass the @critical
periods#@ :e -ay 0nderstand1 $ repeat1 that -ere siDe o/ body does not -ean possession o/
po.er or o/ 2no.ledge1 or o/ intelligence or o/ co-passion# ,s a -atter o/ /act1 it is perhaps
rather the contrary5 -ere vol0-e or rather -ass .eighing the inner spirit rather heavily do.n#
,nd it is I0ite per-issible to conceive o/ gods so s-all that an ato-1 one o/ o0r physical
ato-s1 .o0ld be a cos-ical 0niverse to it# ,nd to 0se the old %rah-anic ter-s1 there sits at
the heart o/ %eing a god1 thin2ing divine tho0ghts1 and r0ling its 0niverse#
So .hen .e spea2 o/ -en at the end o/ the /i/th race in /0t0re ages as evolving physical
vehicles o0t /ro- the-selves1 .hich nevertheless .ill preserve the sa-e general s2eleton
o0tline as at present; .hen .e say that their shape .ill be neither that o/ -an nor o/ .o-an1
.e si-ply -ean that -an hi-sel/1 thro0gh s0//ering and e3perience1 and thro0gh the
evolving o/ that .hich is lying latent .ithin hi-1 and even no. ready to appear1 .ill bring /orth
into e3terioriDation /ro- .ithin hi-sel/ his o.n inner nat0re5 a se3less being# Fro- that ti-e
/or.ards1 -en and .o-en .ill be no -ore1 replaced by /ar nobler h0-ans#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that at o0r last -eeting it .as said that the ti-e had even no. co-e
.hen children -ight be prod0ced .itho0t /athers; b0t the race is belated in its evol0tionary
co0rse1 and probably ages .ill yet pass be/ore this parthenogenetic process begins# Net
even this process is -erely the /irst step to a still -ore di//erent process to co-e later1 b0t it
.ill ta2e place be/ore this o0r /i/th root'race ends; it .ill co-e to pass partly beca0se -en
and .o-en are growing ore ali2e/ in!tead o" ore unli2e# ,s long as -arriage lasts1
ho.ever1 it o0ght to be a 0nion o/ -0t0al respect and 2indness1 in .hich each helps the other
to gro. -orally and intellect0ally#
,t the end o/ this /i/th root'race1 -an and .o-an as se3es .ill have nearly passed a.ay; and
in the si3th race1 nat0rally1 at certain speci/ied ti-es1 .itho0t passion1 by -editation and by
passive .ill and tho0ght1 h0-ans .ill evolve /orth their o//spring1 -0ch in the @0nconscio0s@
.ay !tho0gh the ter- 0nconscio0s is incorrect" that the /lo.ers bring /orth their bloo-s; and
in the seventh race o/ this ro0nd on this planet the h0-ans o/ that splendid ti-e .ill bring
/orth /ro- .ithin the-selves glorio0s creations o/ the active .ill and o/ the i-agination1 their
@children@; and there .ill then be a race o/ ,depts1 o/ incarnate devas 0pon earth# This .ill be
in the seventh race on this planet d0ring this present /o0rth ro0nd# $t is only beca0se .e have
s0n2en -orally and are belated that the pheno-enon o/ virginal birth has not yet appeared
on earth as a physical /act; tho0gh1 as pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting1 it has been
@prophesied@ in religio0s -ysteries1 and the initiation cere-onies contained one .here the
initiant1 a/ter certain conditions had been co-plied .ith1 .as said to be @born o/ a virgin1@ th0s
anticipating1 or rather /orecasting1 .hat .as to co-e to the entire race in the /0t0re; this
being1 as said be/ore1 a re.ard /or noble service rendered in behal/ o/ -an2ind# Aere is a
.ondro0s tr0th1 concealed and 2ept hid /or /ear o/ the pro/anation .hich .o0ld be s0re to
/ollo. i/ these divine -ysteries1 i/ these divine teachings1 /ell into 0n.orthy hands directed by
sche-ing brainsK
hapter Thirty-Two
40t o/ the $nvisible into the Fisible# Fro- the Fisible into the $nvisible# The
7agn0- 4p0s#
(# This !0niverse" e3isted in the shape o/ =ar2ness1 0nperceived1 destit0te o/ distinctive
-ar2s1 0nattainable by reasoning1 0n2no.able1 .holly i--ersed1 as it .ere1 in deep
sleep#
C# Then the divine Sel/'e3istent !Svaya-bh01 hi-sel/" indiscernible1 !b0t" -a2ing !all" this1
the great ele-ents and the rest1 discernible1 appeared .ith irresistible !creative" po.er1
dispelling the dar2ness#
# # #
19# %0t /ro- -in0te body !'/ra-ing" particles o/ these seven very po.er/0l 0r0shas
springs this !.orld"1 the perishable /ro- the i-perishable#
2)# ,-ong the- each s0cceeding !ele-ent" acI0ires the I0ality o/ the preceding one1
and .hatever place !in the seI0ence" each o/ the- occ0pies1 even so -any I0alities it is
declared to possess#
21# %0t in the beginning he assigned their several na-es1 actions1 and conditions to all
!created beings"1 even according to the .ords o/ the Feda#
22# Ae1 the 9ord1 also created the class o/ the gods1 .ho are endo.ed .ith li/e1 and
.hose nat0re is action; and the s0btile class o/ the Sadhyas1 and the eternal sacri/ice#
# # #
(1# :hen he .hose po.er is inco-prehensible1 had th0s prod0ced the 0niverse and -e1
he disappeared in hi-sel/1 repeatedly s0ppressing one period by -eans o/ the other#
(2# :hen that divine one .a2es1 then this .orld stirs; .hen he sl0-bers tranI0illy1 then
the 0niverse sin2s to sleep#
(3# %0t .hen he reposes in cal- sleep1 the corporeal beings .hose nat0re is action1
desist /ro- their actions and -ind beco-es inert#
(*# :hen they are absorbed all at once in that great so0l1 then he .ho is the so0l o/ all
beings s.eetly sl0-bers1 /ree /ro- all care and occ0pation#
# # #
(7# Th0s he1 the i-perishable one1 by !alternately" .a2ing and sl0-bering1 incessantly
revivi/ies and destroys this .hole -ovable and i--ovable !creation"#? The <aw! o"
Manu !The Sacred %oo2s o/ the East1 vol# 33v"
, F,R'SEE$&B hope and a bright peace abide in the hearts o/ all /aith/0l st0dents; in those
at least .ho have learned to perceive that behind the -as2 o/ visible things there is a
splendor o/ li/e and conscio0sness .hich is theirs /or the ta2ing; and also that it depends
0pon the-selves entirely to .hat e3tent they -ay advance along the path.ay .hich ascends
ever 0p.ards and on.ards along the l0-ino0s arc1 0pon .hich .e1 as a race1 have been
and are no. -arching ever since the -iddle part o/ the /o0rth root'race#
The 7ystery Schools o/ antiI0ity -ade the one great ai- and ob>ect o/ their st0dies and
initiatory cere-onies the bringing /orth into act0ality in each candidate or initiant o/ his
i--ortal nat0re1 o/ that part o/ hi- .hich belongs to1 or rather is the o//spring o/1 the inner
-onad; that .hich in /act -a2es hi- a conscio0s part o/ the b0ddhic hierarchy1 o/ the
Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# $t is the 0nion o/ the personal -an .ith these higher principles o/
his o.n nat0re that prod0ces the living 6hrist1 or the /0lly ,.a2ened 4ne called the %0ddha#
$t .as the ob>ect o/ initiation1 as said1 not -erely to -a2e -an conscio0s o/ this higher li/e
.ithin hi-1 o/ these splendors .ithin1 b0t also to enable hi- to beco-e ready and /it to teach
others o/ that li/e .hich he hi-sel/ /elt .ithin hi-sel/# That .as the -ain ob>ect and ai- o/ all
the 7ystery Schools the .orld over1 ho.ever -0ch they -ay have di//ered in /or-s and in
the .ords in .hich they clothed their tho0ghts# $t .as1 in other .ords1 to -a2e each initiant or
candidate a living /ollo.er and e3a-ple o/ the Silent :atcher#
&o. there are -any Silent :atchers1 as has been pointed o0t# The Silent :atcher1 in /act1 is
the hierarch or s0pre-e hierarchical Aead o/ any one partic0lar hierarchy o/ the n0-berless
hierarchies in the 2os-os; the one spo2en so inspiringly o/ by A# # %lavats2y in The Secret
Doctrine is the chie/ o/ the dhyani'b0ddhas governing this /o0rth ro0nd on this planet#
$t .o0ld see- a c0rio0s thing to re/er to in this connection; and yet it see-s a necessary
thing to do1 to spea2 o/ the di//erent vagaries o/ tho0ght1 I0asi'philosophic1 I0asi'scienti/ic1
I0asi'religio0s1 .hich are being spread abroad in the .orld today#
7any are the teachings o/ theosophy1 .hich are no. so /a-iliar and bea0ti/0l1 .hich in the
beginning .ere not easily received by -any in the .orld beca0se they .ere strange and
con/licted .ith the pre>0dices ? religio0s1 scienti/ic1 and other ? that -en had at the ti-e#
Ao. -any people ob>ected to the teaching o/ reincarnation .hen it .as /irst pro-0lgatedK
:hat did so-eone once say to the present spea2er5 @$ do not .ant to be reborn a cab horse;
$ do not .ant to be reborn a /lea; $ a- a -anK@ 4bvio0sly1 there .as here no ob>ection to the
doctrine o/ reincarnation .hich teaches no s0ch -ete-psychosis as that; the ob>ection .as
to his o.n pre>0dices1 and he did not 2no. it#
Si-ilar is the case .ith so-e o/ the doctrines .hich .ill have to be developed and 0n/olded
in o0r st0dies here# $ .ill not say that a-ong o0rselves these teachings .ill -eet .ith
-is0nderstanding; b0t a-ong others they -ay -eet .ith ob>ectors; the root'tho0ghts or
bases o/ the- -ay be -is0nderstood at /irst1 and the ob>ectors -ay not .ait /or ti-e and
re/lection to con/er an 0nderstanding o/ the-# 7ean.hile1 let 0s re-e-ber that the 0t-ost
vigoro0s e3ercise o/ the int0itional and o/ the intellect0al po.ers o/ each st0dent is absol0tely
necessary1 and is act0ally de-anded# :e ta2e nothing on blind /aith; b0t .hile that is the
/act1 on the other hand there li2e.ise re-ains /or 0s the d0ty to c0ltivate the spirit0al and
-editative /ac0lty .ithin o0r being1 the i--ortal part o/ o0r nat0res#
9et 0s no. ta2e 0p the st0dy .hich .e te-porarily closed at o0r last -eeting ? gods1
-onads1 and ato-s1 as regards their respective .or2 in the b0ilding o/ a .orld1 in the b0ilding
o/ a cos-os1 and in the b0ilding o/ -an# :e re/er not only to his body o/ /lesh1 b0t this noble
doctrine incl0des also the wh& and the how/ yea1 and the when o/ his descent thro0gh
spirit0al spheres into incarnation and his e3istences in those spheres# 9et 0s read /irst
/ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $$1 page 2C75
The doctrine teaches that the only di//erence bet.een ani-ate and inani-ate ob>ects on
earth1 bet.een an ani-al and a h0-an /ra-e1 is that in so-e the vario0s @/ires@ are
latent1 and in others they are active# The 4ital "ire! are in all things and not an ato- is
devoid o/ the-# %0t no ani-al has the three higher principles a.a2ened in hi-; they are
si-ply potential1 latent1 and th0s non1e@i!ting# ,nd so .o0ld the ani-al /ra-es o/ -en be
to this day1 had they been le/t as they ca-e o0t /ro- the bodies o/ their rogenitors1
.hose!hadow! they .ere1 to gro.1 0n/olded only by the po.ers and /orces i--anent in
-atter#
40t o/ the invisible into the visible1 /ro- the deeps o/ in-ost space1 .hen the ti-e co-es1 the
li/e'.ave sends /orth its /lo.ings into the e3terior and into the o0ter spheres1 -a2ing /or itsel/
as it advances1 creating /or itsel/1 thro0gh the beings .hich represent that .ave1 its o.n
gar-ents1 .hich 2os-ically are its planes1 its .orlds# These several stages o/ evol0tion or
progression1 as be/ore said1 are !1" the gods1 .hose gar-ents are !2" the -onads1 .hose
gar-ents are !3" the so0ls1 .hose gar-ents are !*" the ato-s1 .hose gar-ents are !("
bodies# Re/er the order to .orlds1 and the doctrine is tr0e# Re/er the order to -an1 and the
doctrine is tr0e# Re/er the order to the ele-ental1 -ineral1 vegetable1 beast1 and h0-an
2ingdo-s o/ this earth1 and the doctrine is again analogically tr0e# Stage by stage1 degree by
degree1 as the living .ave advances1 it pro>ects /ro- itsel/ at each stage1 it casts /orth /ro-
itsel/ at each stage1 inn0-erable entities in/erior to itsel/1 .hich /or- its vehicles1 .hich .e
-ay also call its gar-ents1 its bodies1 or its planes and its .orlds# Each god o/ the great host1
/or instance1 /ro- .ithin itsel/ prod0ces -0ltit0des o/ -onads; each -onad prod0ces /ro-
.ithin itsel/ -0ltit0des o/ so0ls; each so0l prod0ces /ro- .ithin itsel/ -0ltit0des o/ ato-s; and
these clothe the-selves in vehicles o/ -atter1 or bodies1 and all r0n thro0gh their long
evol0tionary co0rse# Then1 .hen the lo.est point o/ the great ro0nd o/ li/e has been reached1
the 0p.ard cycle begins5 there is a reentering o/ the vital /orces1 a gathering 0p1 a gathering
.ithin.ards1 o/ the hosts o/ beings; the visible passes bac2 by degrees into the invisible1 pl0s
the gro.th and e3periences gained d0ring the >o0rney by each individ0al entity# Each one
has advanced one plane 0p.ards in its evol0tion; each one has gone so -any -ilestones
/arther along the path; and1 /inally1 the li/e'.ave enters the divinity /ro- .hich it .ent /orth1
b0t nobler1 higher1 in every respect# $t began its long evol0tionary co0rse a/ter its eI0ally long
pralayic sleep1 obeying the 2ar-ic i-p0lses a.a2ening it to a ne. li/e period; and no.
having co-pleted it1 it is once -ore ready to iss0e /orth again to /or- a ne. -anvantara1 and
in order to do this1 once again develops /ro- .ithin itsel/ ne. planes1 ne. ele-ents1 ne.
principles1 ne. hosts o/ beings as it did be/ore1 b0t no. nobler1 ever ne. ones going /orth1
gro.ing ever higher and higher in grande0r and po.er# S0ch is a general o0tline o/ the
evol0tionary co0rse#
No0 2no. the old saying5 @,s it is above1 so it is belo.#@ That saying is /o0nd in an ancient
.riting said to have been engraved on an e-erald table; according to the legend1 it .as
called the @E-erald Table o/ Aer-es1@ and is 0ndo0btedly based on one o/ the ancient
Aer-etic teachings# $ .ill I0ote the /irst /e. lines o/ it5
Tr0e1 .itho0t error1 certain -ost tr0e; that .hich is above is as that .hich is belo.1 and
that .hich is belo. is as that .hich is above1 /or per/or-ing the -arvels o/ the <os-os#
,s all things are /ro- the Lri-ordialM 4ne1 by the -ediation o/ 4ne Lthe 9ogos ? that is to
say1 the host o/ =hyan'chohansM1 so all things arose o0t o/ this 4ne Thing by evolving # # #
,nd that @4ne Thing@ is the s0--it o/ any hierarchy1 the divinity already spo2en o/ in giving
the general o0tline o/ the evol0tionary procession#
T0rning to the Horoastrian /aith1 .e /ind the /ollo.ing verses in an ancient .or2 !.hich
-odern scholars1 /or reasons best 2no.n to the-selves1 try to bring do.n to late ti-es1 b0t
.hich 0nI0estionably contains very archaic tho0ght" called The De!atir/ in the chapter called
@The %oo2 o/ Shet the rophet Hirt0sht1@ Hirt0sht being one o/ the /or-s o/ the na-e .hich in
English is called Horoaster1 /ollo.ing the Breco'9atin /or-5
29# <no.1 4 7y FriendK that the essence o/ the Sel/'e3istent is one1 and .itho0t li-its or
conditions#
3)# %eing is li2e light; and light beco-eth visible# L7ar2 thatKM
3(# :hatsoever is on earth is the re/lection and the shado. o/ so-ething that is in the
Lspirit0alM :orld'Sphere#
3C# :hile that resplendent so-ething re-aineth in its native condition1 it is .ell also .ith
its shado.#
37# :hen that resplendent thing re-oveth a.ay /ro- its shado.1 li/e re-oveth to a
distance#
3+# ,gain1 that light Lthat resplendent thingM is the shado. o/ so-ething still -ore
resplendent than itsel/ Lnote the hierarchical teaching hereM;
39# ,nd so on 0p to 7e1 .ho a- the 9ight o/ 9ights Lthe hierarchical headM#
$t probably has occ0rred to every tho0ght/0l -ind that i/ -an has .ithin hi-sel/ a I0asi'divine
-onad1 and seated .ithin that divine -onad a divinity1 a god1 it is strange that o0r
conscio0sness o/ this 0nity .ith the divine thro0gh this -onadic lin2 is not stronger in 0s than
it is today# The 6hristians spea2 o/ their g0ardian angel1 and so do the 7oha--edans; and
other peoples1 s0ch as the Bree2s1 spo2e as did Socrates o/ the dai-on1 the g0ardian sel/;
b0t .hy is it that o0r conscience is not stronger and -ore vocal than it is; :hy is it that .e
have to .or2 and str0ggle in.ardly to get this interior ill0-ination conscio0sly1 .hich1 even
according to the 6hristian teachings1 -0st be @ta2en by violence@; $s the reason not here;
7an is co-posite; he is a co-ple31 a co-po0nd being1 and lives on di//erent planes1 and
these planes are the seven ele-ents o/ nat0re; and the seven ele-ents o/ nat0re are its
seven principles1 and the seven principles o/ -an can other.ise be called -an8s seven
ele-ents#
The -onad lives in its o.n .orld1 in its o.n logoic activity1 .ith its I0asi' or se-i'divine
po.ers in /0ll action1 /ar -ore sel/'conscio0s on its o.n plane than yo0 are or $ a- on this
o0r plane o/ conscio0sness# ,nd si-ilarly .ith the god .ithin 0s1 seated .ithin the -onad#
%0t /0rther1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber that in disc0ssing the teaching re/erring to the Silent :atcher1
.e pointed o0t that it .as based on the /act o/ the -any and the 4ne ? ho. -an and the
0niverse are both1 respectively1 -any and one1 -any in the lo.er nat0re1 and one in the
higher# &o.1 then1 please note care/0lly the /ollo.ing5 o0r conscio0sness is no higher than it
is beca0se .e are !each o/ 0s" a person; and it is the raising o/ this person1 o/ this personal
sel/1 o/ this personal so0l1 into the i-personality and individ0ality o/ the -onad1 that is the
great .or21 the -agn0- op0s1 o/ li/e# Aere is the ans.er in brie/ to the I0estion propo0nded
above# The p0rpose o/ all initiatory cere-onies ? to p0t the ans.er in another /or-1 the ai-
o/ all initiatory teachings o/ the ancient 7ystery Schools ? .asthe e4ocation o" the higher
!el"/ o" thi! inner 6eing; and it is possible to do it# , strong and indo-itable .ill is the /irst
reI0isite# 0rity o/ li/e is the second1 -ental p0rity above everything else# ,nd absol0te
loyalty and devotion to the teachings o/ the esoteric .isdo- and to the teacher1 is the third;
and these three principles o/ li/e and cond0ct are tr0e raAa1&oga8and this @2ingly 0nion@ is the
0nion .ith the god .ithin1 o0r divine sel/# :hen this 0nion ta2es place1 then yo0 have .hat
the Bree2s called in their ancient 7ysteries1 theopne0sty1 the breathing into the personal o/
the i-personal essence#
Net preceding this stage or degree o/ initiation1 the second or inter-ediate1 there ca-e the
/irst o/ these initiations1 the act0al and real -eeting "ace to "ace .ith the god .ithin1 yo0r o.n
higher ego'sel/; and this degree .as called theo%han&1 a Bree2 co-po0nd .ord -eaning the
@appearance o/ a god@ ? i#e#1 o/ that god .hich is .ithin yo01 yo0r o.n inner sel/# F0rther1
.hen the t.o preceding 0nions .ere achieved1 .hen the high degrees o/ theopne0sty and
theophany had been .on1 there ca-e a third and last stage1 .hich the Bree2s
called theo%ath&/ a Bree2 co-po0nd .ord -eaning @s0//ering a god1@ @end0ring a god@ ? a
-eaning later to be -ore /0lly e3plained# S0ch an initiate beca-e even in li/e an evolved
6hristos1 or as the %0ddhists call it1 an ,.a2ened 4ne1 a %0ddha1 the a.a2ening to the living
b0ddhic entity .ithin the -an1 the last stage o/ h0-an 2no.ledge possible on this earth on
this ro0nd1 the /o0rth# Fery /e. indeed are they .ho attain to this s0pre-e stage o/ incarnate
.isdo-K S0ch a one .as the 9ord %0ddha1 Ba0ta-a Sa2ya-0ni1 rince o/ <apilavast0# Ae it
is1 .e are told1 .ho today as a nir-ana2aya /or-s the s0--it !or Silent :atcher" o/ the
hierarchy o/ sages /or-ing the Breat %rotherhood1 living a-ong the- invisible to those o/
lo.er degree and visible to those o/ higher degree; in .hat the %0ddhists o/ the north call the
sacred land o/ Sa-bhala1 that -ysterio0s locality .hich is placed north o/ the Ai-alayas1 and
not so /ar /ro- .hat is called the desert o/ Bobi or Sha-o# ,nd that .ondro0s thing1 that
.ondro0s entity1 that .ondro0s being1 .hich .as in A# # %lavats2y and .or2ed thro0gh her1
ca-e /ro- Sa-bhala ? ca-e /ro- this hierarchy# $ do not here re/er -erely to the .o-an1 to
the physical body; no1 nor even to the personality born in R0ssia; b0t to that .onder/0l thing
.ho incarnated in that body1 and .ho le/t part o/ @hersel/@ behind there and .ho .ent /orth
into the .orld crippled psychically1 obeying in this respect an archaic la.1 .hich .as the
ca0se o/ so -0ch -is0nderstanding abo0t her# This entity did its .or2 in the .orld at the
proper cyclic ti-e /or its appearance a-ong -en5 the opening o/ a ne. 7essianic cycle#
No0 2no. the .arning abo0t @/alse 6hrists@ .hich is given in the 6hristian Bospels5 in
7atthe.1 chapter 2*1 verses 231 2*1 and 2(1 and in 7ar21 chapter 131 verses 211 221 and 23#
They are practically the sa-e in sense and .ords1 and they evidently are both ? 7ar2 and
7atthe. ? ta2en /ro- a /or-er1 earlier1 6hristian Bospel1 possibly the so'called Bospel
@according to the Aebre.s1@ o/ .hich scholars 2no.1 b0t .hich they have never yet /o0nd# ,t
any rate1 the .riter o/ the above .arning spo2e tr0ly .hen1 0sing the alleged .ords o/ Ees0s1
he said in s0bstance5 @7any shall co-e a/ter -e1 teaching /alse 6hrists1 .ho .ill try to lead
yo0 astray1 saying 89o1 here he isK8 and 89o1 there he isK8 %elieve it not#@ These .ords are not
necessarily o/ solely 6hristian application5 it is the .arning against i-post0re contained in
the- that .e I0ote# They co0ld apply eI0ally .ell to Ee.s1 Aind0s1 %0ddhists1 ancient
,-ericans1 Scandinavians1 to any people living any.here in the .orld1 /or the .arning co0ld
apply to all# :hy; %eca0se there are in /act cyclic crises or periods .hen real @saviors@ o/
-en do appear1 as also @/alse prophets@ and @/alse 6hrists#@ They co-e al.ays .henever the
ti-e is ripe# ,/ter every period o/ 211C) years1 the length o/ the 7essianic cycle1 there co-es
a recr0descence o/ spirit0al /aith into the .orld at ti-es o/ -aterial gro.th and spirit0al
decadence; in those ti-es that lato calls the barren periods1 a 7essenger @co-es@ /ro-
Sa-bhala1 and gives his doctrine to -en and establishes it1 and then passes# ,nd instantly
copyists1 or perhaps /alse disciples1 those .ho perhaps are see2ing pro-inence /or
the-selves1 or .ho are deceived1 or .ho perhaps are even -isled by their o.n pre>0dices1
by the .ea2nesses o/ their o.n h0-an -inds ? let 0s p0t it in the -ost charitable .ay
possible ? begin -a2ing sects1 begin preaching @/alse 6hrists1@ begin to -a2e an appeal to
the .onder'loving appetite o/ the people# ,nd a ne. sect is born1 and either dies o0t or lives
on /or a ti-e1 and the .orld is priest'ridden and -an'hierarchy ridden /or another series o/
cent0ries1 0ntil by his o.n spirit0al vigor and his -ental strength -an /rees hi-sel/ again;
and a/ter t0rb0lence and achings o/ the heart there co-es a ne. real light1 a ne. real
6hristos1 a ne. light /ro- the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion# $t is the .or2ing o/ the sa-e old
appeal to -en8s spirit0al inner /ires1 by the spirit0al dhyanis .ho incarnated pri-arily in the
third root'race on this planet in this ro0nd as the -anasap0tras1 and .ho thereby saved 0s
/ro- aeons o/ ani-ality and 0nspea2able degradation1 and 0ntold ages o/ lightless
.andering#
There is the sit0ation# :e -0st /ollo. either the @right hand@ or the @le/t1@ as the ancient
%0ddhists said# @<eeping the lin2 0nbro2en@ -eans /ollo.ing the right'hand path# Each one
o/ 0s as individ0als has the choice# &one other can choose /or 0s# ,ll the teacher can do is to
appeal and to teach# Each one o/ 0s has his conscience1 .hich he -0st /ollo.1 and .ith
.hich no inter/erence is ever tolerated# %0t -ar2 yo01 be s0re that the path yo0 choose is the
path o/ conscience and .isdo-# %e s0re yo0 are not led along the le/t'hand path by .iles
and g0ile o/ -any 2inds#
These are old and trite sayings1 b0t they have al.ays a proper application# Their tr0th is not
lessened by the /act that .e are all /a-iliar .ith the-#
,t o0r ne3t -eeting .e shall have to 0nderta2e -ore de/initely the st0dy o/ ho. the li/e'.ave
passes into i-bodi-ents1 -a2ing its o.n vehicles by pro>ection /ro- itsel/ ? by bringing /orth
/ro- .ithin its o.n /oc0s o/ vitality ? inn0-erable in/erior entities1 giving the- /orth as -an
gives /orth his tho0ghts; and then in /0t0re st0dies sho. ho. the li/e'.ave passes do.n the
shado.y arc into ever grosser -ani/estation1 0ntil the critical period is reached1 .hen the
ascending cycle o/ the l0-ino0s arc begins# :e shall have to re/er -ore /0lly to the old
Bree2 and Ro-an philosophic school1 the Stoic1 and sho. ho. tr0e .ere their teachings
regarding the evol0tion o/ the ele-ents1 these ele-ents /ollo.ing each other do.n into
-ani/estation1 each giving /or- to each# For in this teaching .e -ay /ind a proper
0nderstanding o/ ho. the 2os-os is b0ilt1 and ho. -an is constr0cted1 and the wh& and
the how o/ his evol0tion1 and .hy he is here on earth no. and not else.here1 either /arther
along the path or not so /ar#
,ll these are -atters .hich are directly connected .ith the scienti/ic researches o/ o0r o.n
day1 /or -odern scienti/ic discovery is -a2ing great strides /or.ard1 and .ill sooner or later
need g0idance1 or it too .ill ta2e the le/t'hand path# A# # %lavats2y has told 0s plainly that it
is thro0gh the Theosophical 7ove-ent that .ill co-e the light .hich is to enlighten the .orld
and g0ide the /ootsteps o/ -an on the path along the l0-ino0s arc; and it is o0r d0ty to aid in
this noble .or2 .ith all o0r strength# ,nd i/ .e do not 0nderstand o0r o.n philosophy
properly and rightly1 so that .e can -eet others and tal2 .ith the- convincingly1 .e are
/ailing in o0r d0ty# %0t those o/ 0s .ho have an indo-itable .ill and .ho have a.a2ened the
inner 6hristos .ithin1 even to s0ch a s-all e3tent that .e can see even so-ething o/ that
.onder/0l light .ithin .hich gives 0s /ar'seeing hope and abiding peace; those o/ 0s .ho
have /elt it even in slight degree1 .ill realiDe that in it and no.here else on this earth1 nor in
any other sphere1 visible or invisible1 lies the path1 the ancient path1 the s-all1 old path o/
.hich the Upanishads spea21 that leads to the heart o/ the 0niverse#
hapter Thirty-Three
The 9i/e'.ave and the Seven Ele-ents# The Esoteric hilosophy as Ta0ght by
the Stoics#
$/1 o0t o/ the -aterial portion o/ the ether1 by virt0e o/ the inherent restlessness o/ its
particles1 the /or-s o/ .orlds and their species o/ plants and ani-als can be evolved1
.hy1 o0t o/ the spirit0al part o/ the ether1 sho0ld not s0ccessive races o/ beings1 /ro- the
state o/ -onad to that o/ -an1 be developed; each lo.er /or- 0n/olding a higher one 0ntil
the .or2 o/ evol0tion is co-pleted on o0r earth1 in the prod0ction o/ i--ortal -an; ? A#
# %lavats2y1 0!i! 3n4eiled1 $1 3*)
The -ost positive o/ -aterialistic philosophers agree that all that e3ists .as evolved /ro-
ether; hence1 air1 .ater1 earth1 and /ire1 the /o0r pri-ordial ele-ents -0st also proceed
/ro- ether and chaos the /irst Duad; all the i-ponderables1 .hether no. 2no.n or
0n2no.n1 proceed /ro- the sa-e so0rce# &o.1 i/ there is a spirit0al essence in -atter1
and that essence /orces it to shape itsel/ into -illions o/ individ0al /or-s1 .hy is it illogical
to assert that each o/ these spirit0al 2ingdo-s in nat0re is peopled .ith beings evolved
o0t o/ its o.n -aterial; 6he-istry teaches 0s that in -an8s body there are air1 .ater1
earth1 and heat1 or /ire ? air is present in its co-ponents; water in the secretions; earth in
the inorganic constit0ents; and "ire in the ani-al heat# The <abalist 2no.s by e3perience
that an ele-ental spirit contains only one1 and that each one o/ the /o0r 2ingdo-s has its
o.n pec0liar ele-ental spirits; -an being higher than they1 the la. o/ evol0tion /inds its
ill0stration in the co-bination or all /o0r in hi-# ? $bid#1 $1 3*3
F4R TA4US,&=S o/ years there has been no s0ch atte-pt as there is at present1 on the
part o/ the 7asters1 o0r Elder %rothers1 to bring /orth to the attention o/ -an2ind the doctrines
.hich .e have been st0dying at these -eetings /or the past /e. years1 as any st0dent o/
antiI0ity -ay ass0re hi-sel/# The reason is that at abo0t the ti-e o/ the discovery o/ ,-erica
there ca-e the end o/ one o/ the racial cycles1 and the ina0g0ration o/ another1 .hich has
c0l-inated at the present ti-e in the vario0s spirit0al1 psychical1 and physical dist0rbances
both o/ -an and o/ the earth1 s0ch as .e have been e3periencing in the last ten or t.elve
years#
No0 re-e-ber .hat 6icero the Ro-an orator1 tells 0s o/ those .ho never had had the
i--ense advantages con/erred by initiation# Ae tells 0s1 in the -etaphorical lang0age o/ his
day1 that those .ho .ere initiated lived and died .ith a brighter hope and a deeper
2no.ledge o/ -an and things; and that those .ho did not have the s0pre-e advantages o/
the secret teachings o/ the ancient .isdo- given thro0gh initiation1 lived1 -ore partic0larly
a/ter death1 in .hat he described as the shades and -0d and degradation and sorro. and
/ilth ? .ords .hich .ell -erit o0r attention1 beca0se 6icero1 li2e -ost -en o/ his ti-e1 had
indeed passed thro0gh the Ele0sinian rites1 a /act .hich .e 2no. beca0se he hi-sel/ so tells
0s#
&o. the -ain s0b>ect .hich .e have to st0dy -ore /0lly this evening is the proced0re
/ollo.ed by nat0re in the b0ilding o/ .orlds and o/ the 2os-os and o/ -an; and directly
connected .ith this o0r s0b>ect are the di//erent vie.s o/ the gods1 the -onads1 the so0ls1 the
ato-s1 and the bodies1 .hich .e have been st0dying this .inter#
No0 re-e-ber that the ancient Bree2s and Ro-ans had a school .hich they called the
Stoic1 /ro- the Stoa oi2ile or ainted orch1 in ,thens1 .here the Stoic teachers ta0ght#
This school .as /o0nded by Heno o/ 6iti0-1 in the island o/ 6ypr0s1 at abo0t the end o/ the
/o0rth cent0ry be/ore o0r present era; and it /or-ed at abo0t the ti-e o/ the do.n/all o/ the
Ro-an E-pire the religio0s science or scienti/ic religion o/ the -ost advanced thin2ers o/
that era# There is no I0estion that Heno had been initiated1 probably in the Sa-othracian as
.ell as in the Ele0sinian 7ysteries; beca0se .e 2no. that the doctrines that he ta0ght are
not only practically identical a! "ar a! the& go ? please note the I0ali/ication ? .ith o0r o.n1
b0t there are all0sions and hints here and there scattered thro0gho0t these teachings .hich
sho. 0s very plainly that these doctrines o/ Stoicis- did not originate .ith hi-1 according to
the vie.s o/ the -odern scholars1 b0t -0st have ta2en their origin in a /ar past1 in an
antiI0ity originating /ar beyond anything o/ .hich history has preserved annals#
,-ong the doctrines o/ Stoicis- .as that o/ the genesis or birth o/ the ele-ents o/ the
2os-os# Five .ere spo2en o/1 and t.o -ore .ere vag0ely hinted at# The /ive .ere aether1
beginning .ith the highest; then .hat .as called /ire; then air; then .ater; and then earth#
&o. these 2os-ical ele-ents are not the /a-iliar things .hich .e 2no. by those na-es1 /or
they .ere ta2en -erely to sy-boliDe1 thro0gh certain appropriate I0alities .hich they
possess1 the act0al ele-ents o/ 2os-ical being#
These ele-ents o/ nat0re1 .hich the %rah-anical philosophy called the tatt.as1 -ay li2e.ise
be called the %rinci%le! o/ 2os-os1 precisely as -an8s seven principles -ay be called
the eleent! o/ his being# :e can say the ele-ents o/ 2os-os1 or the principles o/ 2os-os1
and it -eans /or present p0rposes the sa-e thing; and .e -ay say the ele-ents o/ -an or
the principles o/ -an1 and it -eans /or present p0rposes precisely the sa-e thing# Seven
di//erent I0alities or states or conditions o/ pra2riti or nat0re ? call it also s0bstance or -atter
/or the present1 i/ yo0 li2e# The present is not an appropriate ti-e to go into a too detailed
distinction o/ the di//erence ? .hich does e3ist ? bet.een -atter and pra2riti# ,t any rate1 the
ele-ents are seven di//erent states or conditions or I0alities o/ pra2riti1 the -ani/ested side
o/ 2os-ical being#
These seven ele-ents or principles ? /ive1 as openly ta0ght ? according to the Stoic
philosophy .ere derived one /ro- the other1 in order as /ollo.s5 /irst1 the &a-eless 4ne;
second1 its progeny or o//spring or child1 .hich is the second ele-ent lo.er in the scale; the
third .as aether1 the progeny or o//spring o/ the second1 co-bining in itsel/1 at the sa-e ti-e1
the I0alities or po.ers o/ the second1 its parent1 and o/ the /irst1 its grandparent1 so to say#
Then ca-e /ire1 containing in itsel/ the ele-ents o/ the three preceding1 and also its o.n
partic0lar s.abhava or essential characteristic# No0 .ill re-e-ber .hat s.abhava -eans5
the partic0larity1 the essential nat0re1 the real characteristic1 o/ a thing1 .hich -a2es it
di//erent /ro- so-e other thing# The s.abhava o/ a rose -a2es the rose plant bring /orth a
rose al.ays1 and not a lily or a violet; and the s.abhava o/ a -an brings /orth as o//spring a
-an al.ays and not a gooseberry or an acorn# This is s.abhava1 or sel/'nat0re# 6all it the
essential individ0ality1 i/ yo0 li2e; it is the special or ger-inal individ0ality#
Then /ro- /ire1 as a parent1 sprang air# :e are 0sing these /a-iliar ter-s1 .ith a .arning1 as
said be/ore1 that they do not really -ean the /a-iliar -aterial things .hich .e 2no. by those
na-es# Ao.ever1 this ele-ent called air contains in itsel/ the I0alities o/ its o.n nat0re1
li2e.ise those o/ /ire1 its parent1 and o/ aether1 its grandparent1 and the I0alities o/ the
second and the /irst ele-ents as .ell# Then co-es .ater1 containing in itsel/ its o.n I0alities
and also the I0alities o/ the /ive .hich precede it# Finally co-es the seventh or last1 gross
-atter1 or concreted s0bstance1 containing in itsel/ the I0alities o/ all the si3 .hich precede it;
each ele-ent giving birth to each /ollo.ing one as the li/e'.ave ran its co0rse do.n the
shado.y arc o/ -ani/estation1 or the b0ilding o/ the /ra-e.or2 o/ the 2os-os#
Th0s1 said the Stoics1 is the 2os-os b0ilt ? en0nciating an e3actly si-ilar doctrine to o0r o.n1
indeed1 identical1 as so /ar o0tlined# Si-ply change the na-es5 0se gods1 -onads1 so0ls1
ato-s1 bodies1 or bearers1 and add li/e /orce1 and the 2os-ical sel/ as the /irst1 and o0r seven
2os-ical principles are there# Then1 said the Stoics !e3pressing here their doctrine in o0r o.n
ter-s"1 .hen the i-p0lse o/ the evol0tionary li/e'.ave had reached its 0lti-ate cycle o/
descent1 i#e#1 had reached its lo.est point on the /o0rth ro0nd1 then began the period o/
ascent; and .ater dre. into itsel/1 as the li/e'.ave advanced 0p.ard1 earth1 and -ingled it
.ith itsel/; and air1 /ollo.ing in t0rn1 dre. .ithin itsel/ the .ater containing the earth1 and
-ingled it .ith itsel/# Then /ire dre. into itsel/ the air containing the t.o lo.er ele-ents in
itsel/; and the aether then in its t0rn dre. into itsel/ the /ire1 .ith its ele-ental contain-ents;
and the second ele-ent1 co0nting do.n.ards1 dre. into itsel/ the aether; and /inally the /irst1
or &a-eless 4ne1 then dre. into itsel/ the second1 containing the ele-ental I0alities o/ all
the others5 and then1 0sing the Stoic lang0age1 the @tension@ o/ the divine Essence .as
restored to its o.n I0ality and 2ind1 as /ar as that Essence had e-anated a li/e'.ave o/
inn0-erable living particles or -onads1 and there .as repose and bliss and 0tter peace and
ine//able rest 0ntil the cyclic ti-e ca-e /or the ne3t evol0tionary o0tpo0ring o/ the
inn0-erable lives#
This is1 as seen1 a doctrine precisely si-ilar to o0r o.n1 as sho.n in the teaching setting /orth
the evol0tion o/ lives d0ring the ro0nds o/ a planetary chain# =escending along the shado.y
arc into -ani/estation thro0gh -atter1 the li/e'.ave advances do.n.ards 0ntil it reaches its
lo.est cyclical point1 then rises along the l0-ino0s arc 0ntil all is .ithdra.n again into the
Essence .hich sent it /orth1 or rather /ro- .hich it .ent /orth; individ0al e3perience gained1
-any stages in evol0tion passed thro0gh1 by every 0nit or -onad o/ the li/e'.ave .hich had
co-e do.n into -atter /or the p0rpose o/ gaining so0l'e3perience there1 and incidentally
giving to the circ0-a-bient -atter itsel/ an 0p.ard i-p0lse# For -atter is nothing b0t
crystalliDed spirit; or1 i/ yo0 li2e1 spirit is etherealiDed -atter; tho0gh the /or-er state-ent is
the better .ay by /ar in .hich to e3press the /act#
,ll this o/ co0rse happens in .hat is called space# Space is not a -ere container or
receptacle o/ things1 as o0r -odern dictionaries de/ine it1 /or in that case it .o0ld be a thing
/inite in itsel/; and1 as said be/ore1 in s0ch case .e sho0ld have to /ind or conceive o/ a
container to contain the container1 and so ad in/init0-# %0t space is the endless and
beginningless%leroa1 @F0llness1@ as the Bree2 philosophers said5 the bo0ndless ,ll1 the /ield
o/ action o/ the 0niversal li/e1 the endless and beginningless F0llness# Space is the vast1 tr0ly
incalc0lable1 aggregation o/ the inn0-erable hierarchies /or-ing -ani/ested being# :e live
and -ove and have o0r being in space1 as the beings1 living in and 0pon the ato-s .hich
co-pose o0r bodies1 live in o0r bodies1 .hich to the- are practically endless space1 the
illi-itable plero-a#
%rea2 the -olds o/ yo0r -inds; allo. yo0r tho0ght to lead yo0 into the vast e3panse o/ the
0niversal conscio0sness .hich these s0bli-e ideas -0st open to yo0# $-agine1 i/ yo0 .ill1
that li/e is endless; that thro0gho0t all r0ns the beating o/ the 0niversal heart; and1
/0rther-ore1 that there is nothing great1 nothing s-all1 e3cept by co-parison1 e3cept
relatively so# :e bring /or.ard again here the tho0ght .hich .e have o/ten be/ore
e3pressed1 an a3io- .hich is one o/ the /0nda-ental tr0ths o/ the esoteric .isdo-1 the
ancient .isdo- o/ the olden ti-es1 and this /0nda-ental tr0th or principle is that o/ relativity#
Everything is relative; there are no absol0tes any.here1 e3cept relatively so; there are no
>0-ping'o// places; there are no 0lti-ates; there are no bo0nds beyond .hich the evolving
spirit -ay not go# Everything is related to everything else# Ao. can a thin2ing -an tal2 o/
in/inites1 and at the sa-e ti-e spea2 o/ absol0tes; :hy1 the very .ord absol0te1 as pointed
o0t in a /or-er st0dy1 -eans .hat the Aind0 .ord u2ta -eans1 @released1@
@/ree#@ )6!olute -eans released1 0nchained1 0nbo0nd ? /reedo-#
No0 re-e-ber that .hen a0l1 the apostle o/ the 6hristians1 d0ring one o/ his -issionary
>o0rneys1 spo2e to the -en o/ ,thens /ro- 7ars8 Aill1 i#e#1 /ro- the ,reopag0s1 he 0sed
.ords .hich are 0nI0estionably1 $ thin21 the /inest in the 6hristian &e. Testa-ent1 /or they
are p0rely pagan philosophy# $n addressing the -en o/ ,thens1 he told the- that .hen he
dise-bar2ed1 on co-ing 0p to ,thens he /o0nd an altar dedicated @to the Un2no.n Bod@
? agno!to theo# &o. he -0st have dise-bar2ed at the old port1 o/ haler0-1 the port o/
,thens .hich .as 0sed be/ore !and a/ter" the b0ilding o/ the irae0s# :e 2no. also1 /ro- the
Bree2 historian and traveler1 a0sanias1 in chapter 11 boo2 11 o/ his .or21 that there .ere
altars in that port dedicated to the @Un2no.n Bods#@ This .ord1 translated into English as
@0n2no.n@ !agno!to!"1 -eans in Bree2 not so -0ch @0n2no.n@ as @0n2no.able@ ? 0n2no.n
in the sense o/ 0n2no.able; 0n2no.n beca0se it .as 0n2no.able#
&o. a0l1 in spea2ing to the ,thenians in his ser-on to the-1 0sed the /ollo.ing .ords1 as
given in the 6hristian .riting1 ,cts1 chapter 171 verse 2+5 @For in hi- .e live1 and -ove1 and
have o0r being; as certain also o/ yo0r o.n poets have said1 For .e are also his o//spring#@ $
-ay point o0t in passing that the Bree2 o/ this passage allo.s 0s to translate the Bree2
.ord auto >0st as .ell @it@ as @hi-@5 @For in 0t .e -ove1 and live1 and have o0r being#@ The
6hristians o/ -odern days1 having in -ind their personal1 active1 -onotheistic deity1 in
translating this passage nat0rally too2 the .ord as o/ the -asc0line gender; b0t the ne0ter
gender is gra--atically correct also and philosophically better by /ar#
,y1 a0l1 the @6hristian@ ? shall .e so call hi-; at any rate he .as an initiate ? a0l1 the
@.ise -asterb0ilder1@ as he calls hi-sel/1 th0s hinting at his esoteric a//iliations1 not only tells
0s that in $t .e live and -ove and have o0r being1 b0t -a2es re/erence constantly to -atters
o/ initiation# The -any -ystical all0sions to vario0s -atters .hich occ0r thro0gho0t the
.ritings ascribed to hi-1 sho. very plainly ho. /ar the 6hristianity o/ today has .andered
/ro- its /irst /o0nders#
These poets o/ .ho- a0l here spea2s are 0nI0estionably the t.o /a-o0s Stoic
philosophers1 ,rat0s !a co0ntry-an o/ a0l1 both he and ,rat0s being probably natives o/
Tars0s in 6ilicia" and 6leanthes o/ the Troad1 .ho .rote1 by the .ay1 one o/ the /inest
e3a-ples o/ Bree2 religio0s poe-s e3tant1 greatly ad-ired even by 6hristian .riters
beca0se they believe they see in it .hat they .o0ld probably call a nascent -onotheis-1 in
the 6hristian sense# %0t it .as si-ply a hy-n o/ reverence to the Stoic divine Essence1 the
hierarch o/ the grand hierarchy o/ o0r 0niverse1 its s0pre-e head1 .hich in the poe-
6leanthes called He0s# lease al.ays re-e-ber that tho0gh He0s -ay be called the
s0pre-e hierarch o/ a 0niverse1 or 2os-os1 or hierarchy1 he is b0t the head o/ oneo/
inn0-erable other si-ilar hierarchies1 hierarchies o/ the vast aggregate1 endless and
beginningless1 .hich co-pose -ani/ested being#
$n hi- ? in it ? .e live1 and -ove1 and have o0r being# ,nd this it is .hat .e very rightly call
space1 .hich is the vast1 endless and beginningless congeries o/ living beings# There is no
vac00-1 no vac0ity1 no e-ptiness1 no @nothing1@ any.here# #4er&thing i! "ull1 not erel& o"
li"e/ 6ut o" li4ing and con!ciou! thing!1 and o/ beings o/ in/initely varying degrees o/
conscio0sness1 s0ch as yo0 and $ are1 /or e3a-ple# Thin2 o/ itK 4pen yo0r -inds1 and let the
tho0ghts .hich this divine idea gives to yo0 strea- in# 9et the- /ind a habitation in yo0r
so0lsK They bring endless co-/ort and peace1 and lead to /0rther ill0-ination#
Ferily1 s0ch is space1 seven/old space1 -ore partic0larly the vast spaces o/ space in.ards1
in.ards1 in.ards1 endlessly#
$n opening o0r -ore partic0lar st0dy /or this evening1 let 0s read /ro- The Secret
Doctrine/ vol0-e $$1 page *921 the second paragraph5
The Secret =octrine points o0t1 as a sel/'evident /act1 that 7an2ind1 collectively and
individ0ally1 is1 .ith all -ani/ested nat0re1 the vehicle !a" o/ the breath o/ 4ne Universal
rinciple1 in its pri-al di//erentiation; and !6" o/ the co0ntless @breaths@ proceeding /ro-
that 4ne %RE,TA in its secondary and /0rther di//erentiations1 as &at0re .ith its
-any an2ind! proceeds do.n.ards to.ard the planes that are ever increasing in
-ateriality# The pri-ary %reath in/or-s the higher Aierarchies; the secondary ? the lo.er1
on the constantly descending planes#
, .onder/0l passageK &ote partic0larly the re/erence to the @-any -an2inds1@ concerning
.hich -atter .e shall spea2 at greater length in a /0t0re st0dy#
=0ring o0r last st0dy .e traced very brie/ly the evol0tion /ro- a god !one o/ in/inite -0ltit0des
o/ divinities or gods"1 o/ other -0ltit0des o/ in/erior beings; o/ onad! springing /ro- that god
and /or-ing its l0-ino0s gar-ent1 its vehicle1 its carrier1 its bearer1 its body# Each one o/
those inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ -onads1 in its t0rn1 sends /orth /ro- itsel/1 pro>ects /ro-
itsel/1 other inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ !oul!/ .hich /or- its gar-ent1 its bearer1 its carrier1 its
vehicle1 its body# ,gain1 every one o/ s0ch so0ls in its t0rn sends /orth /ro- itsel/ other
inn0-erable -0ltit0des o/ato!1 pranic'astral entities ? not the physical ato- o/ science1
please ? and these ato-s /or- the gar-ent1 the carrier1 the vehicle1 the bearer1 the body o/
s0ch a so0l#
Each one o/ these ato-s1 in its t0rn1 concretes aro0nd itsel/1 gathers to itsel/1 the li/e'ato-s
.aiting over /or it /ro- previo0s cycles o/ activity1 .hich are the s2andhas belonging to that
plane o/ -ani/estation1 and th0s /or-s its physical vehicle in .hich all the other principles
!-ostly latent" reside#
&o. this vast collection o/ entities ? gods1 -onads1 so0ls1 ato-s ? passed do.n thro0gh the
2os-ical ele-ents .hich .e have described1 0sing the Stoic /or-0lae rather than the
%rah-anic .hich are not so .ell 2no.n to E0ropean readers1 b0t .hich eI0ally .ell co0ld
have been 0sed; and as these co0rses o/ li/e1 as this li/e'.ave1 travels do.n.ards into
-atter1 thro0gh each ele-ent1 thro0gh each one o/ the seven ele-ents1 it gives birth to one
class o/ these entities .hich .e have been describing# The god lives on the plane o/ the
&a-eless 4ne; the -onads live on the plane o/ the second ele-ent1 li2e.ise 0nna-ed in the
literat0re o/ the ancients; the so0ls live on the plane o/ aether1 a2asa; and the ato-s live on
the plane o/ air1 the /o0rth plane1 the pranic'astral .orld#
Th0s1 the ele-ents o/ the Stoics1 seven in n0-ber1 b0t only /ive openly na-ed1 /or- the
principles o/ nat0re; and the li/e'.ave in passing thro0gh these ele-ents b0ilds its
appropriate habitations in each one o/ the-# ,t certain appropriate planes1 these habitations
ta2e the /or- o/ globes1 and these globes are the seven /or-ing o0r planetary chain; they are
globes b0ilt o/ these inn0-erable1 -0ltit0dino0s hosts o/ ato-s1 o/ so0ls1 o/ -onads; so-e
@a.a2ened1@ so-e partly @a.a2e1@ so-e still sleeping in the lo.er spheres#
Then .hen the hosts o/ beings co-posing the li/e'.ave ? the li/e'.ave being co-posed o/
the entities derived /ro- a /or-er b0t no. dead planet1 in o0r case the -oon ? /ind that the
ti-e has arrived /or the- to enter 0pon their o.n partic0lar evol0tionary co0rse1 they cycle
do.n.ards along the planetary chain that has been prepared /or the- by the three hosts o/
ele-entary beings1 o/ the three pri-ordial ele-entary .orlds1 the /orer0nners o/ the li/e'.ave
yet integral parts o/ it# Re-e-ber1 a hierarchy consists o/ ten degrees or states; three1 as the
ythagoreans .o0ld have said1 re-aining in the silence and dar2ness ? to 0s ? o/ divinity1
and seven entering into -ani/estation# This li/e'.ave passes seven ti-es in all aro0nd the
seven spheres o/ o0r planetary chain1 at /irst cycling do.n the shado.y arc thro0gh all the
seven ele-ents o/ the 2os-os1 gathering e3perience in each one o/ the-; each partic0lar
entity o/ the li/e'.ave1 no -atter .hat its grade or 2ind1 spirit0al1 psychic1 astral1 -ental1
divine1 in it1 advancing1 advancing1 advancing do.n.ards1 advancing 0ntil at the botto- o/
the arc1 .hen the -iddle o/ the /o0rth ro0nd is attained1 they /eel the end o/ the do.n.ard
i-p0lse# Then begins the 0p.ard i-p0lse# ,ccording to the Stoic doctrine1 everything passes
by degrees bac2 to.ards the divine1 thro0gh the ele-ents again1 the lo.er being .ithdra.n
into the higher1 0ntil at last the great cyclic ro0nd is /inished1 and the cycling beings reenter
divinity1 -an being in the /ront ran2s# ,s so o/ten said be/ore1 @-an@ begins his evol0tionary
>o0rney an 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar21 and ends it as a sel/'conscio0s god#
,nd .hen .e say @-an@ o/ the later stages o/ that >o0rney1 .e -ean thethin2ing entit&# The
personal1 by that ti-e1 .ill have beco-e the i-personal; the -ortal .ill have been raised into
i--ortality# These t.o ideas co-prise t.o o/ the -ost s0bli-e teachings o/ the ancient
.isdo-# The -ain thing to realiDe at the present ti-e is that space is a vast1 beginningless
and endless F0llness; it is the bo0ndless ,ll; and1 /0rther1 that it is co-posed o/ the
n0-berless hierarchies1 .hich act0ally are !%ace it!el"/ the spaces o/ space; and1 still /0rther1
that these hierarchies in their t0rn are co-posed o/ incalc0lable n0-bers o/ evolving beings
in all the seven stages o/ develop-ent; and that each s0ch being has its o.n grand cycle to
per/or-5 /irst do.n the shado.y arc and then1 .hen the end o/ that partic0lar evol0tionary
.ave or co0rse has been reached1 the reascent along the l0-ino0s arc 0p.ards1 to.ards the
so0rce /ro- .hich it originally ca-e# Then1 /inally1 the long pralayic sleep# ,t its end co-es
the 2os-ic rea.a2ening1 obeying the 2ar-ic i-p0lses /ro- the preceding -anvantara and
-anvantaras1 the opening o/ a ne. evol0tionary co0rse thro0gh the spheres o/ li/e1 b0t on
higher and /ar s0bli-er levels than be/ore#
hapter Thirty-Four
The Spaces o/ Space# The Secret =octrine1 a Uni/ier5 Universal <eys# =octrines
o/ the Foid and o/ the F0llness 6ontrasted#
7-e# %lavats2y1 spea2ing on this s0b>ect in her Secret Doctrine/I0otes /ro- the old 9oo2
o" D=&an th0s5
@,n ar-y o/ the Sons o/ 9ight stands at each angle1 the 9ipi2a in the -iddle .heel#@
The /o0r angles are the /o0r I0arters1 and the @-iddle .heel@ is the center o/ space; and
that center is every.here1 beca0se as space is illi-itable1 the center o/ it -0st be
.herever the cogniDing conscio0sness is# ,nd the sa-e a0thor1 0sing the Di!ci%leE!
*atechi!/ .rites5
@:hat is it that ever is; Space1 the ,n0pada2a# :hat is it that ever .as; The ger- in the
Root# :hat is it that is ever co-ing and going; The great %reath# Then there are three
eternals; &o1 the three are one# That .hich ever is is one; that .hich ever .as is one;
that .hich is ever being and beco-ing is also one; and this is space#@
$n this parentless and eternal space is the .heel in the center .here the 9ipi2a are1 o/
.ho- $ cannot spea2; at the /o0r angles are the =hyan 6hohans1 and doing their .ill
a-ong -en on this earth are the ,depts ? the 7ahat-as# The har-ony o/ the spheres is
the voice o/ the 9a.1 and that voice is obeyed ali2e by the =hyan 6hohan and the
7ahat-a ? on their part .ith .illingness1 beca0se they are the la.; on the part o/ -en
and creat0res beca0se they are bo0nd by the ada-antine chains o/ the la. .hich they do
not 0nderstand# ? :# G# E0dge1 #choe! "ro the -rient1 p# 1(
Tho0 hast to st0dy the voidness o/ the see-ing /0ll1 the /0lness o/ the see-ing void#
? The :oice o" the Silence/ pp# (('C
$& 4E&$&B o0r st0dy tonight1 let 0s again read the passage on page *92 o/ the second
vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine/ read at o0r last -eeting5
The Secret =octrine points o0t1 as a sel/'evident /act1 that 7an2ind1 collectively and
individ0ally1 is1 .ith all -ani/ested nat0re1 the vehicle !a" o/ the breath o/ 4ne Universal
rinciple1 in its pri-al di//erentiation; and !6" o/ the co0ntless @breaths@ proceeding /ro-
that 4ne %RE,TA in its secondary and /0rther di//erentiations1 as &at0re .ith its
-any an2ind! proceeds do.n.ards to.ard the planes that are ever increasing in
-ateriality# The pri-ary %reath in/or-s the higher Aierarchies; the secondary ? the lo.er1
on the constantly descending planes#
:e have here in brie/ co-pass not only the o0tline o/ the hierarchical teaching1 b0t also o/
the entire b0ilding o/ the 2os-os .hich1 repeated in the s-all1 -eans li2e.ise the b0ilding o/
the -icrocos- or -an#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that at o0r last -eeting .e disc0ssed1 -ore or less brie/ly on acco0nt o/
the shortness o/ the ti-e1 the I0estion o/ the nat0re o/ space1 and .hat space .as1 and .hat
space .as not# :e endeavored to point o0t that space1 in the ordinary conception o/ things1
-eans a receptacle or a container; in other .ords1 it 0s0ally -eans %lace# Space is 0sed
al-ost synony-o0sly .ith place; b0t this is not the 0se .hich is a0thoriDed or ta0ght in the
esoteric teachings1 .herein it is sho.n that space is the illi-itable series o/ hierarchies1
.hich do not -erely /ill1 b0t .hich are the bo0ndless ,ll1 beginningless and endless; and that
space1 as the old Bree2s p0t it1 .as an endless F0llness1 endless and beginningless1 and
they called it the plero-a1 or the F0llness; one 0niversal li/e1 one heart1 so to say1 p0lsating
or beating thro0gho0t#
:e also spo2e o/ ? and please -ar2 this care/0lly ? the spaces o/ space1 the in.ards o/
space1 the in.ard parts1 bearing to space the sa-e relation that -an8s o.n inner principles
bear to his o0ter vehicle#
&o. then1 tonight .e are going to e3ec0te an apparently co-plete right'abo0t'/ace; a/ter
th0s having pointed o0t in /or-er st0dies .hat space .as considered to be in certain
branches o/ the ancient .isdo-1 as a-ong the Stoics1 and a-ong the %rah-ans1 and in
other schools o/ tho0ght all0ded to -erely1 .e shall no. ta2e 0p very brie/ly li2e.ise the
-anner in .hich space is loo2ed 0pon -ore partic0larly by o0r Esoteric School1 and
especially by the holders o/ the esoteric doctrines o/ Ba0ta-a the %0ddha#
:e are no. going to say1 and prove1 that the secret doctrine o/ the ages is above everything
else a 0ni/ier; that .e are learning1 .e are beginning to 0nderstand1 a series o/ doctrines
.hich give 0s the 2eys to the great religions o/ the past ages; and that these 2eys are
0niversal in their proper application1 each depending solely 0pon the inner capacities o/ the
individ0al as to ho. -0ch he -ay gain by t0rning a 2ey once aro0nd1 or t.ice1 or three ti-es1
-ayhap even seven ti-es#
There is a doctrine o/ the &orthern %0ddhis- ? and .e choose it in order to ill0strate the
esoteric teachings regarding space ? called the doctrine o/ the Foid1 the doctrine o/ the
E-pty1 li2e.ise /o0nd in other schools in past ti-es1 s0ch as .ere ill0strated by the Bree2
,to-ists1 =e-ocrit0s1 9e0cipp0s1 and Epic0r0s1 and by the great Ro-an poet 90creti0s; and
even spo2en o/ by so-e o/ the Stoical philosophers1 .ho other.ise ta0ght the doctrine o/ the
F0llness# :e have an ill0stration here that -ay be a lesson to 0s1 as .ill appear later on this
evening1 that things .hich -ay see- to be or /or- a contradiction in The Secret Doctrine/ or
else.here in o0r teachings1 are not really contradictions1 tho0gh they -ay be parado3es# ,
parado31 please 0nderstand1 is a state-ent .hich appears to be or contain a contradiction1
b0t .hich act0ally is not one#
The .ord 0sed in the %0ddhist Sans2rit .ritings to describe this E-ptiness is
s0nyata# !un&a -eans @e-pty@ or @void#@ The ta is the sa-e gra--atical s0//i3 in Sans2rit
as ta! is in the 9atin1 unite!/ trinita!/ 4acuita!/ and is /o0nd in English as the t& in eternity1 or
0nity1 or vac0ity1 and so /orth5 there/ore !un&ata is to be translated @vac0ity#@
These %0ddhist philosophers teach that the only reality1 the only /0nda-ental thing1 so to
say1 o/ being1 is the illi-itable Foid# Fro- it in the beginning1 or in ti-e1 springs /orth a
2os-os1 or spring /orth the 0niverses; and to it they ret0rn .hen their cycle o/ -ani/estation
is ended# This doctrine o/ the Foid is o/ a /ar -ore spirit0al nat0re than the doctrine o/ the
F0llness# $t is -0ch -ore di//ic0lt to 0nderstand than the latter1 beca0se o0r E0ropean -inds
are not trained to the thin2ing reI0ired easily to 0nderstand tho0ghts s0ch as these# :e can
-0ch -ore easily1 -0ch -ore I0ic2ly1 co-prehend and 0nderstand the F0llness o/ things1
than .e can the tho0ght that o0t /ro- the illi-itable and per/ect Foid spring into li/e all the
in/inite -ani/estations o/ 2os-ic being; and that bac2 into the Foid they sin2 again .hen their
li/e cycle is r0n# $n other .ords1 o0r -inds /ind it easier to 0nderstand the -ystical and the
religio0s rather than the tr0ly philosophic and the tr0ly scienti/ic# Net this doctrine o/ the Foid
.as ta0ght by the grandest intellect1 the -ost titanic spirit0al po.er1 2no.n to -an2ind in the
annals o/ recorded and 0nrecorded history; $ -ean by hi- .ho- .e call the 9ord %0ddha1
Ba0ta-a Sa2ya-0ni#
This does not -ean that .e are %0ddhists1 as has been pointed o0t in /or-er st0dies; b0t the
doctrines .hich the %0ddha ta0ght are also o0rs1 .hen .e apply to the- the 2ey .hich .e
have# No0 .ill re-e-ber that t.o 2inds o/ doctrine .ere ta0ght by the %0ddha1 i#e#1 the
doctrine o/ the eye1 very /aith/0lly preserved by the So0thern school o/ 6eylon1 %0r-a1 Sia-1
and so /orth; and .hat is called the doctrine o/ the heart1 that is1 the hid doctrine1 the 7ystery'
doctrine; respectively so called beca0se the eye can see o0t.ard or visible things; b0t the
heart is not seen1 and in it1 according to the old tho0ght1 /lo. the /o0ntains o/ li/e# This
doctrine o/ the heart is the esoteric .isdo-1 the 0nseen part o/ the teaching1 its core or heart1
that .hich is not given o0t to all#
ractically all the religions and philosophies o/ the 4ccident1 even in Bree2 and Ro-an
ti-es1 have pre/erred to de-onstrate their tenets on the bac2gro0nd1 or on the /o0ndation1 o/
the doctrine o/ the F0llness; i#e#1 that the 0niverse is in/initely /0ll1 and that this /0llness is
co-posed o/ in/inite -0ltit0des o/ beings# &o. that doctrine i! true ? .e repeat it
e-phatically; b0t li2e.ise is tr0er still the doctrine o/ the Foid# &o contradiction e3ists here1
as .ill be sho.n#
:hat do .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ the Foid1 then; The doctrine o/ the Foid -eans1 or
rather can be ill0strated by1 t.o things# :hen .e loo2 into .hat people pop0larly call the
in/init0des o/ space1 .hat do .e see; :e see .hat to 0s is e-ptiness# %0t this so'called
ether !these ethery spaces"1 even according to the theories recently ta0ght by o0r -odern
scientists1 is -ore rigid than steel1 denser than o0r densest -atter; and the hard and dense
-aterial st0// that .e 2no. on this earth1 the hard roc2s1 the harder -etals1 etc#1 are li2e
/loating /oa-1 /oa-y b0bbles1 holes1 as it .ere1 /loating in and on the in/inite vast e3panses
o/ the 2os-ic Foid#
The other .ay by .hich to approach o0r s0b>ect is the /ollo.ing5 :hat is that .hich is not
-atter; Spirit# 6an yo0 p0t spirit into a containers; 6an it be enco-passed or -eas0red;
&o# :hy not; %eca0se it cannot be contained1 in o0r sense o/ the .ord# $t1 to 0s1 is
e-ptiness1 void# $t is that .hich in/ills the vast ethery spaces1 and it is -erely the /eebleness
o/ o0r senses and the .ea2ness o/ o0r 0nderstanding ca0sing 0s to live in the e3ternal1
.hich -a2e 0s /oolishly to believe that this .hich .e see is thereal1 and that the so'called
ethery spaces are 0nreal or e-pty in the pop0lar sense#
The Foid1 then1 is the higher %lane! o/ the bo0ndless ,ll; that .hich to 0s is void1 and .hich
there/ore .as so e3pressed by the ancient philosophers ? teaching as they did the 0s0al sort
o/ -en1 they 0sed si-ple lang0age so that -en co0ld -ore easily 0nderstand1 >0st e3actly as
in the case o/ the -0ch -is0nderstood geocentric syste- so -0ch -oc2ed at by o0r .ise
-odern nat0ral philosophers# ,nd yet1 is it not tr0e that every point in space is its center;
:hy1 the idea is a co--on tho0ght a-ong thin2ing -en# Even the rather orthodo3 French
philosopher ascal1 copying an ancient Bree2 /ig0re o/ e3pression1 says that space or in/inity
is that .hich has its center every.here1 and its circ0-/erence no.here#
&at0rally1 then1 the ancients loo2ed 0pon o0r earth as the center o/ space1 and so .o0ld the
inhabitants o/ Fen0s1 or o/ 7ars1 or o/ E0piter1 or o/ the 7oon1 or o/ the S0n1 or o/ any other
body or point in space# They spo2e and ta0ght anthropocentrically1 as pointed o0t in one o/
o0r earlier st0dies1 i#e#1 /ro- the h0-an standpoint o/ co-prehension#
,nd li2e.ise ? and this is a passing tho0ght ? .hen o0r o.n ancient esoteric philosophers
spo2e o/ the planets1 spo2e o/ Fen0s1 or o/ 7ars1 /or instance1 as a @constellation1@ they 2ne.
per/ectly .ell .hat they .ere saying1 and they did not spea2 in ignorance# :hy did they
spea2 o/ a planet as a constellation1 .hich in ordinary astrono-ical ter-inology or parlance
-eans a collection or a gathering o/ stars; %eca0se every one o/ the visible planets .e see
is b0t one o/ seven1 si3 o/ the- invisible to o0r physical eyes1 the seven /or-ing a planetary
chain# ,nd1 /0rther-ore1 these planetary chains are co-posed o/ seven distinct and separate
glob0lar bodies1 /or-ing1 to the eye o/ the seer1 a tr0e constellation; and /0rther-ore still1
each one o/ these seven globes has /o0rteen di//erent lo2as !or rather seven lo2as and seven
talas" or @.orlds@ attached to it1 -a2ing th0s1 co0nting all the seven globes1 *9 .orlds or
planes or lo2as and *9 talas# ,s hinted at in o0r /or-er t.o or three st0dies1 .here .e spo2e
o/ the li/e'.ave co-ing do.n and passing thro0gh the seven ele-ents o/ nat0re1 .e i-plied
that the li/e'.ave /or-ed and b0ilt in each one o/ the seven ele-ents its appropriate habitat
or habitation# Each one o/ these seven globes or spheres is b0ilt /or the develop-ent o/ one
o/ the seven principles o/ -an; and each one o/ these seven globes has its o.n seven
s0bprinciples or s0bele-ents to boot; precisely as the interior nat0re o/ -an has b0ilt
corresponding 0padhis or vehicles as his o.n seven s0bprinciples in each one o/ his seven
greater principles1 there/ore *9; and as each principle is bipolar1 there are *9 P 2 R 9+
conditions or states all told# Each principle o/ 2os-os or o/ -an -0st have its chance /or
-ani/estation in its o.n @ho-e@ or ele-ent1 in its o.n vibratory s0rro0ndings1 in its o.n
partic0lar -agnetic sphere; and a proper 0nderstanding o/ all this can be obtained in no other
.ay than by /ollo.ing the hierarchical evol0tionary co0rse o/ the great titanic intellects and
spirits .hich govern o0r 2os-os#
The doctrine o/ the Foid1 then1 is act0ally identic .ith the doctrine o/ the F0llness# There is a
distinction1 ho.ever1 and this distinction is1 as pointed o0t1 that the doctrine o/ the Foid is the
-ore spirit0al o/ the t.o1 and treats o/ the 0pper or s0perior nat0re o/ the 2os-os1 o/ the
in.ards and the yet -ore in.ards and o/ the still -ore in.ards1 in/initely1 o/ the spaces o/
space; .hereas the doctrine o/ the F0llness treats o/ the 2os-oi1 the 2os-oses1 as they
are in ani"e!tation+ %0t the sa-e tho0ght1 precisely the sa-e idea1 lies bac2 o/ both
doctrines#
This opens the aven0e /or a /0rther brie/ e3planation o/ .hat .as pointed o0t in o0r last st0dy
or t.o# So-e perhaps -ay have tho0ght that there .as a radical di//erence bet.een
the %rinci%le! o/ -an and the eleent!o/ -an1 or the %rinci%le! o/ space and the eleent! o/
space# The di//erence is not radical; it does not go to the root o/ the case# %0t there is a
distinction# F0nda-entally the ele-ents and the principles are one# ,s e3plained be/ore1
/orce and -atter are essentially one# Spirit and s0bstance are essentially one# Spirit -ay be
called etherealiDed -atter1 or -atter crystalliDed spirit1 b0t the latter is the better /or- o/
e3pression# $t is per-issible to -a2e a distinction bet.een a /orce and its -aterial vehicle1 its
-aterial sel/1 so to say#
The seven great ele-ents o/ the 2os-os are the vehicles o/ the seven great /orces o/ the
2os-os1 and those seven great /orces are the principles o/ the 2os-os; hence1 the seven
great ele-ents in .hich they .or2 are the vehicles o/ the 2os-ic principles# The principles
are the energy'conscio0sness side1 and the ele-ents are the -atter'pra2riti side o/ being#
There is the sole distinction# %0t1 as said1 there is no radical di//erence bet.een the-# $t is
rather a distinction o/ states or conditions# , /orce1 ho.ever spirit0al it -ay be1 is -atter to a
still higher /orce# 7atter concreted1 as .e -ay thin2 it to be1 is /orce to a -atter in/erior to it#
The e3planation o/ the parado3 lies in pointing o0t the relationship o/ the planes o/ being
each to each1 as these .or21 or are .or2ed 0pon1 in the great 2os-ic Foid'F0llness#
:e .o0ld li2e to point o0t /0rther that in spea2ing o/ principles and ele-ents as is here done
? the seven principles and ele-ents o/ -an -ay be instanced ? the teaching as above given
is acc0rate in every partic0lar# The point to re-e-ber is that these so'called seven principles
o/ -an or o/ the 2os-os1 considered as descriptive .ords1 are generali=ing ter-s# No0 co0ld
not1 /or instance1 separate -an into seven nat0rally distinct pieces and loc2 each piece into a
separate receptacle# ,nd .hy; %eca0se these seven principles are to be tho0ght o/ -0ch as
i/ .e .ere to spea2 o/con!ciou!ne!! and "orce and atter and energ& and eleent1 etc#
They are generaliDing ter-s# They are the conscio0sness's0bstance1 the -atter'/orce1 o/ the
bo0ndless ,ll in .hich -an -oves1 and lives1 and has his being# Breat intellects o/ the past
have analyDed this -atter'/orce or spirit's0bstance and have sho.n that it consists in
ani"e!tation o/ seven apparently discrete1 seven separate1 parts1 .hich yet e!!entiall& are
one? the 4ne 9i/e1 0niversal and bo0ndless# They are1 /irst1 the sel/; then the vehicle o/ the
sel/1 the vehicle or /o0ntain o/ p0re i-personal individ0ality# Then1 third1 the capacity /or
personal or li-ited tho0ght1 egoity; then the principle o/ @hate and love@ or @attraction and
rep0lsion@ in the 2os-os or in -an1 called 2a-a# Then1 /i/th1 the vitality or li/e principle1
derived directly /ro- the /irst; and then1 si3th and seventh1 the astral and physical bodies1
vehicles#
&o. yo0 see that these are general principles o/ being# %0t .hen .e 0nderta2e to analyDe
-an -ore partic0larly1 /or p0rposes o/ acc0rate esoteric st0dy1 .e shall /ind1 .hen .e co-e
to that part o/ o0r investigations1 that .e shall have to be /ar -ore partic0lar in the ter-s .e
0se i/ .e are to get a proper 0nderstanding o/ .hat -an is1 ho. he is b0ilt1 his relationship to
other beings in the 2os-os1 .hy he evolves as he does1 and his /inal destiny# The greatest
I0estions o/ the spirit'side o/ nat0re1 the greatest I0estions o/ psychology1 the great proble-
o/ psychophysical evol0tion1 are bo0nd 0p in >0st this tho0ght that .e have here en0nciated#
40r ti-e is so short at any one o/ o0r -eetings that .e can do little -ore in that ti-e than
brie/ly hint at certain things1 ta2ing the- 0p at later -eetings /or /0rther consideration# %0t
-ar2 yo01 it is better so# S0ch .as al.ays the -ethod o/ the ancient schools# &ever did they
teach according to o0r -odern boasted syste- o/ t0rning and t.isting and ha--ering at a
s0b>ect 0ntil the li/e .ent o0t o/ it1 and the brains o/ their p0pils .earied and beca-e set in
-ental -olds# This brain'-ind -ethod has no ele-ent o/ inspiration in it .hatsoever# That
-ethod cripples the thin2ing entity# 4n the contrary1 the ancient teaching .as by proper
s0ggestion1 -a2ing the disciple to do his thin2ing /or hi-sel/1 on a hint or at an all0sion1
-a2ing his -ind to catch the holy /ires o/ inspiration1 so that he sho0ld lighten 0p his o.n
inner te-ple .ith the tho0ghts that his o.n divine -onad in/0sed or inspired into hi-#
arables1 hints1 s0ggestions1 .ere the teacher8s -ethod; and then al.ays1 at a later date1
catching 0p the tho0ght again1 opening the door a little .ider1 raising the veil o/ $sis a tri/le
-ore1 rendering help in this -anner#
Th0s1 then1 .e have seen that the ele-ents and the principles are essentially one1 d0al only
in -ani/estation# :e have seen that the principles o/ nat0re and o/ -an are the energy'
conscio0sness side o/ nat0re and o/ -an; and that the ele-ents in the 2os-os or in -an are
the -atter'pra2riti side o/ nat0re and o/ -an# %0t re-e-ber al.ays that /orce and -atter1
spirit and s0bstance1 conscio0sness and its vehicle or 0padhi1 are essentially one# ,s said
be/ore1 a /orce or a spirit0al energy is concreted -atter to another one diviner than it; and the
concreted -atter o/ o0r plane is a .hirling cyclone o/ /orce to the -atter in/erior to it# , /act1
this1 .hich o0r scientists are beginning to realiDe1 as sho.n in their teaching o/ the .hirling
electrons1 tiny bodies1 .hirling in the -olec0lar aggregate called the physical ato- ? a
-iniat0re solar syste-1 they say# , tr0e tho0ght that1 and inspired#
Re-e-ber that s0nyata1 called the doctrine o/ the Foid1 re/ers to the spirit0al side o/ being1
and that the doctrine o/ the plero-a1 the doctrine o/ the F0llness1 re/ers to the -atter'pra2riti
side o/ being1 the side o/ -ani/estation1 .hich passes a.ay .hen the great -anvantara is
/inished#
%0t re-e-ber also1 as said several ti-es already this evening1 that .hen .e spea2 o/
s0bstance or o/ spirit1 o/ /orce or o/ -atter1 o/ p0r0sha or o/ pra2riti ? to 0se the %rah-anical
San2hya ter-s ? it is only by .ay o/ voicing the things .hich .e have learned thro0gh o0r
vario0s inner /ac0lties and o0ter senses abo0t the 2os-os1 and that /0nda-entally these
respective pairs are one# Spirit and s0bstance or -atter are one1 and both .ill sin2 bac2
again into the vast illi-itable Foid o/ the 0nbo0nded divinity .hen the ti-e o/ 0niversal
pralaya co-es# Re-e-ber the ancient -ystic saying that the disciple sho0ld learn to 2no.
the -eaning o/ the state-ent5 the /0llness o/ the see-ing void1 and the voidness o/ the
see-ing /0ll#
&o. this @see-ing /0ll@ o/ -atter is tr0ly s0nya1 e-ptiness1 -ostly holes1 so to say# S0nya is
the ancient %rah-anical doctrine o/ -aya1 a doctrine o/ the Fedanta1 called the @end o/ the
Feda1@ beca0se it is clai-ed to be the per/ection or end o/ the teaching concerning the
esoteric side o/ the Fedic poe-s# Ma&a -eans @ill0sion#@ &ot that the -ani/ested 2os-os
does not e3ist; it does e3ist1 or it co0ld not be or provide an ill0sion# The ill0sion consists in
not properly 0nderstanding it# $/ -atter or s0bstance !or nat0re1 pra2riti" did not e3ist1 yo0
-ight as .ell say that spirit does not e3ist1 beca0se they are /0nda-entally one# The tr0th is
that -atter is not the s0bstantial1 in/inite ele-ent1 the e!!ence o" realit&1 .hich o0r :estern
-inds ? 0nta0ght and 0ndisciplined in these ideas ? thin2 it is1 -erely beca0se it see-s solid
to 0s and there/ore @real#@ $t is ill0sion beca0se it is deceptive; and act0ally1 as the %0ddhists
ta0ght1 thereby teaching the sa-e tho0ght as the %rah-anical ,d.aita'Fedanta1 s0nyata is
the doctrine o/ e-ptiness1 o/ the ele-ental vac0ity o/ the -ani/ested 0niverse1 and hence is
the doctrine o/ -aya1 ill0sion5 ill0sory beca0se unreal#
Even the -odern nat0ral philosophers1 the physicists1 the che-ists1 no. are beginning to
0nderstand that this so'called apparent 0niverse is -ostly vac0ity# They have never yet been
able to /ind o0t .hat -atter really is; it is a /ig-ent o/ the scienti/ic i-agination1 as co--only
e3plained1 and all they 2no. abo0t it is si-ply .hat their o.n int0itions and scienti/ic
ded0ctions have told the-5 that bac2 o/ the see-ing1 bac2 o/ the appearances1 there
is !oething concerning .hich they say ? @:e are learning -ore abo0t it# :hat it really
is1 we do not 2nowJ>
,s a /inal tho0ght tonight1 let -e point o0t that altho0gh .e have been spea2ing d0ring
recent -eetings o/ the gods1 -onads1 so0ls1 ato-s1 bodies1 .hich still /or- o0r present
s0b>ect o/ st0dy1 .e have not yet /inished it by any -eans; .e have barely entered 0pon it#
Using the ter- gods1 .e 0se a ter- .hich is /a-iliar# $t is a good ter-1 a tr0th/0l ter-; there
is no reason to re>ect it; b0t yet it is not the ter- 0sed in o0r esoteric syste-# 40r esoteric
Tibetan teachings 0se /or it the e3pression dhyani'b0ddhas1 and the lo.er side o/ the god'
plane .here they belong is occ0pied by the dhyani'chohans# Dh&ani1 a Sans2rit .ord
adopted into the Tibetan ter-inology1 -eans @-editation@ or @conte-plation@; there/ore the
/or-er e3pression -eans @b0ddhas o/ -editation@ or o/ conte-plation; and the latter -eans
@lords o/ conte-plation@ or o/ -editation# The latter ter-1 ho.ever1 is not in/reI0ently 0sed to
incl0de both classes# $n the 7ystic Bree2 syste-1 these gods1 these dhyani'b0ddhas1 .ere
called logoi1 logoses# The .ord logo! is a Bree2 vocable -eaning @.ord#@ $t also has a
derivative -eaning given as @reason#@ :hy; %eca0se the Bree2 philosophers sa. that .hen
a -an thin2s and desires to e3press his tho0ght1 to convey the tho0ght to another1 he -0st
0se word!# The .ord is the carrier o/ the tho0ght over to another -ind5 and /ro- this si-ple
ill0stration the .ord logo!/ -eaning @.ord1@ .as adopted into the philosophic lang0age and
into the religio0s lang0age !and later into 6hristianity"1 to -ean that po.er or energy or entity
.hich carries the divine tho0ght over to lo.er planes ? carried over /ro- the plane above or
behind it1 /ro- the intellect or -ind behind it1 /ro- the conscio0sness behind it1 to lo.er
planes# $n o0r case1 the -onads occ0py this second or lo.er plane#
$n concl0sion1 $ desire to translate /ro- the original Bree2 the /irst /ive verses o/ the 6hristian
Bospel ascribed to the disciple .ho- Ees0s is said to have especially loved1 Eohn1 called
Eohn the =ivine1 divine -eaning here theologian# Ae .as th0s called theologian1 .e -0st
s0ppose1 beca0se he .as the only one o/ the /o0r .riters o/ the /o0r accepted Bospels .ho
.rote anything rese-bling in style or in -atter the /ine1 lo/ty1 theological teachings belonging
to the &eoplatonic or &eopythagorean school ? an 0nintended co-pli-ent to the latter#
These I0asi'pagan teachings are /o0nd in the /irst part only o/ the Bospel according to Eohn#
They are as /ollo.s ? and $ .o0ld that $ had ti-e -ore /0lly to e3plain the- than the
necessarily brie/ co--entary on the- that $ can -a2e this evening5
1# $n the beginning .as the logos1 and the logos .as to.ards god1 and the logos .as god#
2# This Lthe logosM .as in the beginning to.ards god#
$ a- -a2ing -y o.n translation; the so'called ,0thoriDed Fersion is a literary /arce1
translated to s0it the -onotheistic pre>0dices o/ the 6hristian e3egetes; and the Revised
Fersion is no better#M
3# ,ll things .ere generated thro0gh it1 # # #
The Bree2 .ord egeneto/ here translated @generated1@ co0ld li2e.ise be translated @ca-e
into being#@ The English .ord generated itsel/ co-es /ro- the sa-e ,ryan root# $ read again5
3# ,ll things .ere generated thro0gh it1 and .itho0t it not a single thing .as generated
Lca-e into beingM#
*# That .hich .as generated in it .as li/e1 and the li/e .as the light o/ -en#
(# ,nd the light shines in the shado.1 and the shado. too2 it not 0p#
=on8t yo0 see o0r teachings all0ded to there; the very .ords 0sed in the ancient doctrine1 ay1
even /ro- the %oo2 o/ =Dyan1 the @spirit and its .ing1@ the @.ing and its shado.@; Shadow is
an ancient 7ystery'ter- -eaning @vehicle@ or @body@ as .as pointed o0t in a recent st0dy1 in
a I0otation read /ro- a chapter o/ The De!atir called @The %oo2 o/ Shet1 the rophet
Hirt0sht1@ or Horoaster# There the .ord shado. .as 0sed in e3actly the sa-e sense#
&ote the tho0ght here5 in the beginning o/ o0r -ani/ested 0niverse e3isted the logos1 being
the /irst entity or thing bro0ght into -ani/estation in the beginning; and this logos
.as toward! god# The Bree2 .ord here translated @to.ards@ is %ro!/ -eaning -otion
to.ards a thing# 4/ co0rse1 the logos sprang /ro- the spirit divine1 god1 b0t the atte-pt here
in this Bospel is to e-phasiDe the tho0ght that its nat0ral aspirations .ere to.ards its parent'
/o0ntain# , great secret o/ occ0ltis- lies in this tho0ght# @,s a -an thin2eth1 !o i! he/> says in
s0bstance a Aebre. .riting1 roverbs1 thereby 0ttering a pro/o0nd tr0th# 7an /ollo.s
in/allibly the bent o/ his nat0re1 his desire# Ae is -agnetically dra.n to.ards that .hich his
heart longs /or1 and that which he want! he get!8 i/ he .ants heaven he .ill get it; and i/ he
.ants hell1 he .ill be -agnetically dra.n to spheres in/ernal# This1 in brie/ e3pression1 is an
o0tline o/ the .hole -ystery o/ so'called 2ar-ic /r0its1 o/ heaven and o/ hell ? and -0ch
-ore .hich .e -0st here leave 0nsaid#
@,nd the logos .as to.ards god@ ? aspiring to.ards its o.n divine so0rce; and this god .as
s.abhavat1 Father'7other; not s.abhava1 .hich is an entirely di//erent thing# ,s pointed o0t
be/ore1 s.abhavat is .hat certain ,siatic and other schools call Father'7other1 the great
Fac0ity1 s0nya1 the great E-ptiness1 a2asa in Aind0 .ritings1 .hich is the great Foid to
u!/ b0t the great F0llness in another sense# :hat .e call the great F0llness is the -ani/ested
0niverse /lo.ing /orth in .ondro0s procession /ro- the Foid1 or s.abhavat1 or Father'7other1
or -ahas0nya1 or a2asa1 vario0s na-es /or the sa-e thing#
Ferse 2# @This .as in the beginning to.ards god#@ So an3io0s .as the .riter o/ this Bospel to
point o0t that the logos originated in the beginning1 and that the aspiration o/ the logos .as
to.ards its parent'so0rce1 that he -0st needs repeat it once again#
Ferse 3# @,ll things .ere generated thro0gh it1@ that is1 cae into 6eingthro0gh it# This sho.s
that it is the de-i0rg0s or .orld /ashioner .hich .as in the .riter8s -ind1 and this logos is on
the third lo.er plane only o/ -ani/estation1 on the third 2os-ic plane; as .e say1 the third
logos /ro- above1 .hich is the -ani/est logos or the .orld -a2er1 the .orld arti/icer# The
.riter contin0es5 @,nd .itho0t it not a single thing .as generated#@ So an3io0s1 so desiro0s1
.as he to sho. that there .as no creating o/ so0ls or .orlds or anything else by an e3tra'
2os-ic god1 that he has to point o0t again here that it .as the logos1 the 2os-ic .ord1
carrying its /orce do.n /ro- its parent1 that "ro it!el" generated things1 cast the- /orth1
pro>ected the-1 evolved the-1 e3actly as .e have been pointing o0t in o0r recent -eetings
as being the co0rse or -ethod o/ -ani/estation# ,nd these things .ere the -onads1 the
ato-s1 the so0ls1 and all the rest#
The .riter contin0es1 changing the tho0ght'type so-e.hat1 /or /ear that it .ill be tho0ght that
this generation o/ the beings on so high a plane is the -ere -atter and gross physical things
.hich .e see aro0nd 0s5 @That .hich .as generated in it Lin the logosM .as li/e@ ? not stones1
trees1 stars1 planets1 etc#1 -en1 and other things1 b0t li"e# ,nd the li/e ? -ar2 this ? @.as the
light o/ -en1@ the spirit0al light ill0-inating -an2ind; in other .ords1 -an8s higher nat0re1 or
verily o0r o.n inner logos1 o0r o.n @inner god1@ o0r o.n inner 6hristos#
,nd this logos1 the third or -ani/est logos1 is b0t the vehicle o/ a logos still higher than itsel/#
=0ring the processes o/ generating or bringing /orth all these things .hich are less than itsel/1
every single step brings /orth light1 /or light is one o/ the /irst -ani/estations o/ the creative
activity ? re-e-ber1 creation in its original sense -eans "oration# This light o/ the third
2os-ic plane is daivipra2riti# :e borro. the .ord /ro- the Fedanta o/ Aind0stan; it -eans
@shining or divine pra2riti1@ o/ .hich a2asa or s.abhavat is the @cro.n#@ S.abhavat or a2asa
is the /irst -ani/est 2os-ic ele-ent or -ani/estation o/ pra2riti1 or essential nat0re itsel/#
Re-e-ber that there are seven nat0res1 one .ithin the other; seven ele-ents; seven 2os-ic
/orces# @,nd the li/e .as the light o/ -an2ind@ ? o0r o.n higher nat0re#
,nd the last verse5 @,nd the light shines in the shado.@ ? .hich1 as regards -an1 is its
vehicles or o0r higher -inds# @,nd the shado. too2 it not 0p1@ i#e#1 pri-ordial -an had as yet
evolved no vehicle or -ind /it to @ta2e it 0p@ or in#
This tho0ght here enables the .riter o/ this Bnostic Bospel ? Bnostic at least in the /irst part
thereo/ ? to introd0ce his sectarian teachings5 @There .as a -an .ho .as sent /ro- Bod1
.hose na-e .as Eohn1@ to preach the gospel o/ Ees0s 6hrist1 the h0-an logos1 the savior o/
-an2ind# Ae1 Ees0s 6hrist1 .as this light1 .ho @beca-e /lesh@ !K" and ca-e into the .orld as
the @light o/ -en#@ TragicK , bea0ti/0l teaching o/ the ancient 7ystery'religion /ro- the
beginning o/ ti-e is here ta2en and adapted1 and applied ? as pointed o0t in a previo0s st0dy
? to a -ere 7ystery'/ig0re1 a -ere type'/ig0re o/ the ancient 7ysteries# &ot that Ees0s did
not ever live; a -an1 a Aebre. rabbi i/ yo0 li2e1 called Ees0s1 did live; b0t the 6hristos o/
.ho- the 6hristian Bospels .rite is a type'/ig0re o/ the 7ysteries1 b0t -0ch and sadly
distorted#
hapter Thirty-Five
4cc0ltis- and the 7ystery Schools# Seven =egrees o/ $nitiation5 7an %eco-es
a Bod# Seven <os-ic lanes5 40r lanetary 6hain o/ Seven Blobes on
the Fo0r 9o.er lanes ! the Passa)e o# the +i#e-wave therethrou)h.
The .orld ? -eaning that o/ individ0al e3istences ? is /0ll o/ those latent -eanings and
deep p0rposes .hich 0nderlie all the pheno-ena o/ the Universe1 and 4cc0lt Sciences ?
i#e#1 rea!onelevated to s0persens0o0s :isdo- ? can alone /0rnish the 2ey .here.ith to
0nloc2 the- to the intellect# %elieve -e1 there co-es a -o-ent in the li/e o/ an adept1
.hen the hardships he has passed thro0gh are a tho0sand/old re.arded# $n order to
acI0ire /0rther 2no.ledge1 he has no -ore to go thro0gh a -in0te and slo. process o/
investigation and co-parison o/ vario0s ob>ects1 b0t is accorded an instantaneo0s1
i-plicit insight into every /irst tr0th# Aaving passed that stage o/ philosophy .hich
-aintains that all /0nda-ental tr0ths have spr0ng /ro- a blind i-p0lse ? # # # ; the adept
sees and /eels and lives in the very so0rce o/ all /0nda-ental tr0ths ? the Universal
Spirit0al Essence o/ &at0re1 SA$F, the 6reator1 the =estroyer1 and the Regenerator#
? The Mahata <etter!/ p# 2*1
$ say again then# $t is he alone .ho has the love o/ h0-anity at heart1 .ho is capable o/
grasping thoro0ghly the idea o/ a regenerating practical %rotherhood .ho is entitled to the
possession o/ o0r secrets# Ae alone1 s0ch a -an ? .ill never -is0se his po.ers1 as there
.ill be no /ear that he sho0ld t0rn the- to sel/ish ends# , -an .ho places not the good o/
-an2ind above his o.n good is not .orthy o/ beco-ing o0r chela ? he is not .orthy o/
beco-ing higher in 2no.ledge than his neighbor# ? $bid#1 p# 2(2
There is b0t one general la. o/ li/e1 b0t inn0-erable la.s I0ali/y and deter-ine the
-yriads o/ /or-s perceived and o/ so0nds heard# ? $bid#1 p# 2((
TAE SE,R6A /or tr0th is the noblest ai- that -an can p0rs0e# The original principles o/
being .ere 0ncovered ages 0pon ages agone1 and .ere coordinated into a co-plete and
-arvelo0s syste-# Upon that .onder/0l syste- as a basis1 the teachers o/ ancient ti-es laid
the /o0ndations o/ the s0perstr0ct0res o/ the vario0s philosophic and religio0s syste-s .hich
have co-e do.n to 0s in the .orld8s literat0res as no. e3tant# These syste-s contain in
greater or less degree /0nda-ental tr0ths o/ being1 the st0dy o/ .hich in o0r o.n ti-e is
called occ0ltis- ? the science o/ the 2os-os and o/ -an as a part thereo/; telling 0s o/ the
origin1 the nat0re1 and the destiny o/ the 0niverse and o/ -an1 a part thereo/# The 7ystery
Schools o/ antiI0ity /or-ed the inner /oc0s o/ the ancient tho0ght1 and the doctrines there
st0died .ere called the heart doctrine1 beca0se they represented the doctrines that .ere hid;
and the vario0s philosophies that they e3po0nded in p0blic .ere called the eye doctrine1
beca0se they .ere the doctrines in e3oteric phrasing o/ the things that .ere seen and not the
things that .ere hid# The heart doctrine co-prised the sol0tions o/ the enig-as o/ being1 and
these sol0tions .ere p0t /orth in e3oteric /or- 0nder the g0ise o/ allegory and in -ythological
treat-ent1 and /or-ed the eye doctrine1 or the e3oteric religions or philosophies#
%0t all these ancient philosophies .ere /o0nded on .onder/0l and s0bli-e tr0ths1 co-pared
.ith .hich the philosophies o/ -odern E0rope are -ere verbiage1 little -ore than /ine .ords#
The doctrines co-prised in occ0ltis- treat1 as said1 o/ the real nat0re1 origin1 and destiny o/
the 2os-os and -an# These 7ystery Schools ta0ght cau!al thing!/ and their e//ects in li/e;
they ta0ght o/ the -ost inti-ate and pro/o0nd relations o/ the ele-entary beings1 .hatever
their degree in the 2os-os1 to each other# They ta0ght -an that the .ay to a co-plete
0nderstanding o/ the -ysteries o/ being .as by searching .ithin; that no -an co0ld
0nderstand a tr0th properly .hich -erely entered his ears1 .itho0t having developed in
hi-sel/ also /irst the capacity1 the inner /ac0lty1 o/ co-prehension; and it .as the
develop-ent o/ this inner /ac0lty o/ co-prehension or 0nderstanding that .as the -ain ai-
o/ the schools o/ initiation#
The .hole e//ort1 then1 o/ these initiating schools .as to -a2e -an 2nowhi-sel/# :hy;
%eca0se the in-ost essence o/ -an is rooted in the in-ost essences o/ the 0niverse1 and by
/ollo.ing the s-all1 age'old path1 as the Upanishads said1 .hich lies .ithin -an hi-sel/1 and
to .hich Ees0s all0ded .hen he said1 @$ a- the .ay1 the tr0th1 and the li/e@ ? by /ollo.ing that
s-all1 old path in.ards1 -an co0ld cli-b step by step in.ards or @0p.ards1@ in.ards and
in.ards /orever1 constantly e3panding into greater /ields o/ conscio0sness# ,nd this evolving
o/ the inner -an is achieved thro0gh the evocation o/ the spirit0al po.ers latent in -an8s
higher nat0re# $t is1 in /act1 the 0niting -an8s so0l to his divine -onad1 his inner god#
,s pointed o0t in /or-er st0dies1 three .ere the states1 a/ter the /o0rth degree o/ initiation1
.hich the initiant or candidate -0st .in5 /irst ca-e the theophanic -ystery1 .hich is the
appearance at the sole-n -o-ent o/ initiation o/ -an8s o.n inner god to hi-sel/; and this
holy presence .as called by the Bree2s theo%han&1 @the appearance o/ a god1@ i#e#1 -an8s
o.n higher sel/ to hi-sel/# ,nd .hile in the average candidate this s0bli-e -o-ent o/
intellect0al ecstasis and high vision lasted b0t a short ti-e1 .ith /0rther spirit0al progress o/
the candidate the theophanic co--0nion beca-e -ore end0ring and lasting1 0ntil /inally1
0lti-ately1 -an 2ne. hi-sel/1 not -erely as the o//spring spirit0ally o/ his o.n inner god1 b0t
as that inner god itsel/1 in his essential being#
That .as the /irst step1 the /irst realiDation# The second ca-e in .hat the Bree2s
called theo%neu!t&1 .hich is a Bree2 co-po0nd .ord -eaning @the inbreathing o/ a god1@
and in .hich -an not -erely .as conscio0s by inner senses1 and o0ter senses even1 o/ his
inner divinity1 b0t he /elt the inspiration /lo.ing thro0gh his intellect0al and spirit0al veins1 as it
.ere ? /elt the inbreathing /ro- his o.n inner god and beca-e1 th0s1 inspired1 the very .ord
inspiration -eaning @inbreathing#@ :ith the passing o/ ti-e and the greater p0ri/ication o/ the
so0l'vehicle1 .hich is -an hi-sel/1 this inbreathing or inspiration beca-e per-anent#
Finally1 there ca-e at the seventh initiation the -ost s0bli-e -ystery o/ all1
called theo%ath& by the Bree2s1 -eaning @the s0//ering a god@ ? a technical ter-; that is to
say1 not that the god s0//ered1 b0t that the initiant1 the candidate1 s0//ered hi-sel/ to beco-e1
abandoned hi-sel/ /0lly to be1 a tr0ly sel/less channel o/ co--0nication o/ his o.n inner god1
his o.n higher sel/; he beca-e lost as it .ere in the greater sel/ o/ his o.n higher sel/# This
personal sel/ beca-e absorbed1 trans-0ted1 and its lo.er characteristics vanished a.ay li2e
a clo0d be/ore the s0n; and .ith the passing o/ ti-e and the greater cleansing o/ the vehicle1
the so0l1 the personal -an1 beca-e blended 0tterly .ith his o.n inner god# ,nd that .as
theopathy#
&o. the vario0s degrees o/ initiation in the ancient 7ystery Schools co-prised1 /irst1 three
degrees1 .hich .ere those o/ teaching# :ith the /o0rth began the personal e3perience; that
is to say1 the teaching .as contin0ed1 b0t in addition to that the initiant1 the candidate1 .as
-ade to6e1 to 6ecoe/ that .hich be/ore he .as ta0ght o/1 told abo0t; beca0se the only .ay
0tterly to 2no. a thing1 the only .ay 0tterly to 0nderstand a thing1 is to beco-e it#
There is vastly -ore in this tho0ght than appears on the s0r/ace1 and -ore than .e have
ti-e this evening to enter into# %0t let it re-ain in yo0r -inds# ,nd the teaching .as
contin0ed .ith every step higher1 0p to the seventh1 ay1 even 0p to the tenth degree# :e stop
at the seventh1 beca0se the three highest degrees are /ar beyond o0r co-prehension1 and
pertain only1 .e are told1 to the highest o/ the 7asters#
Teaching contin0ed even 0p to the seventh initiation1 coordinately .ith the sel/'e3periencing1
the sel/'beco-ing; and in this .ay -an not -erely 2ne.1 b0t /elt hi-sel/1 realiDed that he
.as1 one .ith the 2os-os1 not -erely its o//spring and child in a detached -anner1 b0t verily1
in every sense o/ the .ord1 it itsel/# Then ca-e the realiDation o/ that 2os-ic sel/1 the at-an1
that .hich is the sa-e in yo0 and -e1 in every d.eller on this globe1 and in every d.eller in
every one o/ the planetary or stellar bodies in space; the /eeling1 the sense1 the 2no.ledge1 @$
a-#@ That .hich separates 0s is the /eeling o/ @$ a- 01@ and @yo0 are &ou>; and this is the
action o/ the ego1 egois-#
Net1 -ystery o/ -ysteries1 2no. this5 it is only thro0gh the passing across o/ egoity into
0niversality that -an beco-es a god# $/ there .ere not the egoic principle enlarged and
p0ri/ied to contain it and to 0nderstand it1 there co0ld be no s0ch thing as the Aierarchy o/
6o-passion1 there co0ld be no s0ch thing as the l0-ino0s arc# $t re-ains .ith each one o/
0s so to live the li/e1 so to p0ri/y his inner sheaths o/ being1 so to trans-0te his so0l'essence1
that they -ay beco-e /it channels o/ co--0nication bet.een his o.n inner god and hi-sel/#
:hen -an has acco-plished that1 he beco-es o-niscient /or o0r 2os-ic hierarchy;
o-niscient1 /or all 2no.ledge o/ it and in it is his# ,nd .hy; %eca0se his essence o/
conscio0sness1 the egoic essence1 has beco-e 0nited thro0gh his o.n inner god .ith the
0niversal plane1 the at-ic plane; and 2no.ledge and .isdo- then strea- thro0gh hi- as the
s0n'rays strea- thro0gh the at-osphere#
:e have read /ro- The Secret Doctrine at three or /o0r /or-er -eetings a paragraph .hich
.e shall repeat tonight1 in vol0-e $$1 on page *921 as /ollo.s5
The Secret =octrine points o0t1 as a sel/'evident /act1 that 7an2ind1 collectively and
individ0ally1 is1 .ith all -ani/ested nat0re1 the vehicle !a" o/ the breath o/ 4ne Universal
rinciple1 in its pri-al di//erentiation; and !6" o/ the co0ntless @breaths@ proceeding /ro-
that 4ne %RE,TA in its secondary and /0rther di//erentiations1 as &at0re .ith its
-any an2ind! Lplease note thatM proceeds do.n.ards to.ard the planes that are ever
increasing in -ateriality# The pri-ary %reath in/or-s the higher Aierarchies; the
secondary ? the lo.er1 on the constantly descending planes#
:e have there1 co-prised in brie/ co-pass as said be/ore1 the entire o0tline o/ the st0dy
.hich .e have been p0rs0ing this .inter; and at a later -o-ent this evening1 or perhaps at
o0r ne3t -eeting1 .e shall go into this I0estion o/ the vario0s -an2inds spo2en o/# There is
involved in this a great and .ondro0s -ystery# 9et -e -erely say at the present -o-ent that
the h0-anity o/ .hich .e /or- a part on earth today1 that is to say1 the partic0lar li/e'.ave
.hich .e call -an2ind or h0-anity or h0-an beings1 is not the sole and only li/e'strea- o/
intelligent egos traversing the vario0s ro0nds o/ evol0tion on o0r planetary chain# There are
si3 others1 all evolving conte-poraneo0sly .ith 0s1 so-e ahead o/ 0s1 and so-e behind 0s;
and they are evolving in the vario0s lo2as or talas .hich .e shall try /0rther to el0cidate this
evening# , -ost di//ic0lt s0b>ect this1 b0t one .hich .e shall do o0r best to e3plain1 beca0se
it is absol0tely necessary1 even in s-all degree1 in order properly to 0nderstand the
/0nda-ental I0estions o/ the evol0tion o/ the evolving ego# Evol0tion is a s0b>ect .hich is
interesting the .orld very -0ch at the present ti-e1 and .hich o0r scientists li-it1 o/ co0rse1
-erely to the physical .orld1 -ore especially as concerns -an and the beasts1 .hich are t.o
stirpes !to 0se the 9atin .ord" only o/ the vastly n0-ero0s /a-ilies o/ evolving beings1 so-e
ahead o/ 0s and so-e behind#
&o. yo0 .ill re-e-ber that at o0r last t.o or three -eetings .e spo2e o/ the principles and
ele-ents o/ the 2os-os# The ele-ents /or- thereo/ the vehic0lar1 or bearer1 or carrier side;
and the principles /or- the energy'conscio0sness side; and .e shall this evening li-it o0r
st0dy !.ith -ere all0sions to h0-an ele-ents and principles" to the 2os-ic planes1 beca0se
o0r present endeavor is to get a clear pict0re1 as clear as possible at the present ti-e1 o/
.hat .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ 2os-ic planes1 o/ the seven globes o/ the planetary chain1
and o/ the ro0nds#
$t is -ost interesting to note that these s0b>ects1 .hich so -any people have -is0nderstood
to be -erely interesting I0estions /or intellect0al entertain-ent1 are inti-ately involved .ith
the -oral1 and .ith the spirit0al1 nat0re o/ -an; and no -an can have a proper
co-prehension o/ ethics and -orals .itho0t 0nderstanding his proper place in the 0niverse5
his origin1 his nat0re1 and his destiny# :hat -orals need in 4ccidental tho0ght is a /o0ndation
based on science and philosophy# 7orals are not so-ething .hich is 0p in the air; they are
not so-ething .hich -an -0st -erely live by ? they are that1 indeed1 b0t they are -0ch
-ore# The -oral sense springs /ro- -an8s spirit0al conscio0sness1 and no -an ? and .e lay
it do.n positively ? can really 0nderstand a theosophical doctrine /ro- the intellect0al
standpoint only and .itho0t having the spirit0al light 0pon it# ,nd that light1 that spirit0al light1
-ani/ests in -an8s intellect0al real- o/ tho0ght as his instinctive -oral sense1 that .hich the
great Ber-an philosopher <ant spo2e o/ as the one thing .hich held hi- /ir-ly to the belie/
that o0r 0niverse .as so-ething -ore than -ere /orce and -atter#
Re-e-ber /irst1 that1 as pointed o0t in the Upanishads and in the several .onder/0l
%rah-anical philosophies1 in ancient Bree2 tho0ght1 in 6hristianity1 and pree-inently in o0r
o.n teachings ? thro0gho0t the .orld1 in /act1 in the vario0s ancient philosophies and
religions ? .hen .e spea2 o/ divine things .e -0st 0nderstand that we al!o are a %art
thereo"/ and that even the physical .orld itsel/1 the -aterial .orld itsel/1 is b0t the gar-ent o/
the divine; i-per/ect1 beca0se it is b0ilded by i-per/ect6ecau!e e4ol4ing hierarchies1 by
i-per/ect entities1 o/ .hich .e also are e3a-ples# Re-e-ber .hat Boethe says1 in
his Fau!t5
Th0s1 at the roaring loo- o/ Ti-e $ ply1 O ,nd .eave /or Bod the gar-ent tho0 see8st Ai-
by#
,nd as a0l1 the 6hristian1 said1 @$n $t .e live and -ove and have o0r being#@
Search into yo0rselves# The teachings given o0t in these st0dies are the 2eys# rove the-;
e3a-ine the literat0res o/ the .orld; search all things; and1 as a0l said !spea2ing as an
initiate"1 retain that .hich is good1 retain that .hich yo0 2now to 6e true+
Seven1 then1 are the ele-ents o/ 2os-os; seven1 then1 are its principles1 .or2ing thro0gh
those seven ele-ents# Fro- the conscio0sness'side they are conscio0sness on the one
hand1 vehicle on the other# Fro- the s0bstantial side they are /orce on the one hand1 and
-atter on the other# 9et 0s ill0strate this /irst o/ all by seven horiDontal1 parallel lines1 to
represent the ele-ents and principles o/ 2os-os#
lease re-e-ber that this /ig0re is a diagra-# The ele-ents1 the principles1 o/ the 2os-os
are not really one above another1 li2e a series o/ steps1 or li2e the r0ngs o/ a ladder# This
/ig0re is a diagra- only1 that is1 it is a!&6ol# The ele-ents o/ the 2os-os1 the principles o/
the 2os-os1 the spheres o/ the 2os-os1 are within each other1 the -ost spirit0al being the
in-ost# %0t this being i-possible in representation on a plane s0r/ace1 .e have to /ig0rate
the idea sche-atically1 diagra--atically1 paradig-atically# There/ore this /ig0re -erely
sho.s /irst1 that there are seven planes in 2os-os# 9et 0s ne3t represent the evolving and
originating li/e /orces1 the gods and the intelligences o/ the three higher planes1 by a triangle1
0sing the old latonic and ythagorean sy-bol ? a bea0ti/0l sy-bol ? beca0se it sho.s and
s0ggests the originating point1 the 2os-ic point1 the seed1 /ro- .hich all divine things spring;
and .hich sho.s the ape3 o/ the triangle also vanishing1 as it .ere1 thro0gh the highest
plane1 thro0gh a laya'center1 a ne0tral center1 a nirvana o/ all things less or lo.er than it1
vanishing -ore in.ard into so-ething higher# E3actly as a seed1 an acorn1 /or instance1 .ill
bring /orth an oa21 in its t0rn shedding its harvest o/ acorns1 so the 2os-ic seed sends /orth
/ro- itsel/ these hosts o/ hierarchies o/ beings1 the-selves prod0cing other lo.er hosts on
the do.n.ard scale# 9et 0s then represent this process by a triangle#
The /o0r lo.er planes o/ the /ig0re1 .hich are the /o0r lo.er 2o!icplanes1 represent all the
states that -an can reach to in his present period o/ develop-ent# 40r o.n at-ic essence
springs /orth /ro- the /o0rth 2os-ic plane1 co0nting do.n.ards# F0rther1 let 0s ne3t
represent o0r planetary chain in the /ollo.ing -anner1 that is to say1 by inscribing circles1
seven o/ the-1 on these planes1 t.o on each plane1 .ith the e3ception o/ the lo.est plane
.here .e inscribe only one circle1 representing o0r o.n globe Terra# Then1 .e n0-ber these
circles respectively1 beginning .ith the le/t and going do.n.ards1 ,1 %1 61 =; and then going
0p.ards1 E1 F1 and B# lease note that there are t.o circles or globes on each plane1 .ith
the e3ception o/ globe =1 o0r o.n# These seven @planes@ are really the seven 2os-ic
ele-ents respectively#
$t is e3tre-ely te-pting to s0ppose1 or to thin21 that each one o/ these seven globes has a
respective habitat or loc0s or place on or in each one o/ the 2os-ic ele-ents1 b0t it is not so#
That idea is .hat .e call a /alse analogy1 a te-pting s0ggestion leading the -ind astray#
&o.1 then1 .hen .e spea2 o/ the seven ele-ents o/ the 2os-os1 .e -ean by ele-ents
e3actly .hat the ancients -eant1 .hich they described by verbal sy-bols# They spo2e o/ /o0r
0s0ally1 occasionally o/ /ive1 and they .ere the sa-e all over the .orld ? earth1 .ater1 air1
/ire; so-eti-es a /i/th1 aether1 .as -entioned; b0t these .ere certainly not the -aterial earth1
.ater1 air1 or /ire that .e 2no.# These things o/ earth .ere chosen beca0se they sy-boliDed1
by reason o/ certain attrib0tes inherent in the-1 the /o0r planes or rather ele-ents o/ nat0re
on .hich the seven globes o/ o0r planetary chain live and -ove and have their being# :e
can say thatearth represented 2os-ic -atter1 concreted s0bstance1 the lo.est ele-ent o/ all;
and that water represented 6haos in the ancient sense ? as the Aebre. %ible p0ts it1 the
@.aters@ o/ space over .hich brooded the Elohi-1 the gods1 -istranslated @Bod#@ ,nd .e can
say that air is spirit# The very .ord !%iritu! in 9atin -eans @breath1@ @.ind1@ @air#@ ,nd "ire is
the sy-bol o/ divine light1 the /irst e-anation o/ the 2os-ic 9ogos1 .hich .e call1 adopting
the Sans2rit'%0ddhist ter-1 dai4i%ra2riti1 @divine nat0re1@ @divine light1@ light being one o/ the
/irst e-anations in the beginning o/ the evol0tionary processional period#
There/ore1 .hen .e spea2 o/ ele-ents1 .e -ean rather .hat the average E0ropean -ind
0nderstands by @spheres o/ action1@ .orlds5 the .orld o/ 2os-ic -atter1 the .orld o/ 6haos1
the spheres o/ spirit1 and the .orld o/ the divine light or daivipra2riti#
The logoic .orld1 .hich is to 0s the I0asi'divine1 the /o0rth 2os-ic plane1 co0nting
do.n.ards1 co-prising the planetary globes , and B1 let 0s then call the archetypal .orld1
and .e so .rite it in o0r diagra-# The .orld beneath1 co-prising globes % and F1 .e .ill call
the intellect0al or creative .orld# The .orld belo. that1 co-prising globes 6 and E1 .e .ill
call1 i/ yo0 please1 the astral or /or-ative .orld# ,nd the lo.est ele-ent or .orld o/ all1 on
.hich o0r sole globe is1 o0r planet Terra1 let 0s call the physical .orld#
No0 .ill here recogniDe at once .hat .e have stated be/ore in connection .ith the doctrines
o/ the Gabbalah ? the /o0r .orlds that it teaches o/# Those o/ yo0 .ho have st0died the
Gabbalah -ay re-e-ber that its .orld o/ e-anations or archetypal .orld is
called at!iloth8 then co-es the second1 the .orld called 6eriah/ or creative /ollo.ing
do.n.ards; and then the third .orld1 called the .orld o/ /or-ation1 &et!irah8 and /inally the
/o0rth or -aterial .orld1 .hich the Gabbalists called the .orld o/ shells1 Heli%%oth/ o0r .orld1
beca0se it is that o/ the -ost concreted -atter1 the shell holding all the others; li2e the shell
o/ an egg1 or the rind o/ a /r0it1 and so on1 and also -eaning so-ething else in connection
.ith 2a-a'lo2a1 b0t .e are not treating o/ that part o/ the s0b>ect tonight and -erely -ention
it in passing# These .orlds are1 o/ co0rse1 o0r /o0r 2os-ic ele-ents#
F0rther-ore1 please re-e-ber the ne3t i-portant tho0ght# Each one o/ these seven 2os-ic
ele-ents1 co0nting /ro- the beginning1 i#e#1 co0nting do.n.ards1 co-prises in itsel/ all the
others .hich preceded it1 o/ .hich it is an e-anation# For instance1 the /irst1 the highest1
e-anates the second1 belo. it1 in .hich it re/lects itsel/1 to boot; yet this second nevertheless
has its o.n s.abhava1 its o.n essential nat0re or pec0liar characteristic1 b0t it also is the
carrier or vehicle o/ the one above it1 as >0st said# &e3t1 these t.o e-anate and re/lect
the-selves into the third1 .hich yet has its o.n essential nat0re1 b0t nevertheless is the
carrier or bearer o/ those above it; and si-ilarly .ith the /o0rth or lo.est .orld or ele-ent#
Every ato-1 even o/ the physical .orld1 has everything in it o/ the bo0ndless 2os-os1 latent
or developed1 as the case -ay be# &ote the opti-istic trend o/ tho0ght in this#
&o.1 then1 these /o0r lo.er 2os-ic ele-ents or planes co-prise all o/ 0s1 that is to say1 all o/
0s that .e have so /ar developed# The s0--it o/ the archetypal or /o0rth 2os-ic plane is the
ele-ent .here the laya'center o/ o0r at-an is ? o0r 0niversal 2os-ic sel/# Thro0gh it strea-
the divine /orces /ro- above1 .hich originate or rather are o0r seven principles1 o0r seven
ele-ents o/ being1 -ani/esting in the /o0r lo.er 2os-ic ele-ents .hich li2e.ise /or- the
seven ranges o/ pra2riti or nat0re as .e cogniDe the-# No0 .ill re-e-ber that every 2os-ic
ele-ent in itsel/ is s0bdivided into seven s0bele-ents1 i#e#1 seven degrees o/ pra2riti# So /ar
as .e are concerned1 the seven s0bdegrees o/ pra2riti or nat0re on each one o/ these /o0r
lo.er 2os-ic planes co-prise the only degrees o/ pra2riti o/ .hich .e can at the present
ti-e have cogniDance1 beca0se .e have not yet evolved the /ac0lties .ithin 0s necessary to
cogniDe the higher ones#
,s a concl0ding tho0ght tonight1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber /ro- reading the teachings that A# #
%lavats2y gave 0s in her .onder .or2 The Secret Doctrine/ that the li/e'.ave p0rs0es an
evol0tionary co0rse thro0gh these seven globes1 passing /ro- globe ,1 a/ter /inishing its
evol0tionary cycle on it1 to globe %1 /inishing its cycle on % and passing to globe 61 /inishing
its cycle on it and then passing on to globe =1 and so aro0nd the chain1 -a2ing .hat .e call
one ro0nd#
%0t .e -0st be ca0tio0s in these -atters and avoid leaping to concl0sions# The above does
not -ean that only .hen everything is /inished or per/ected on globe ,1 .e then >0-p to
globe %# &ot at all# Seven s0bli/e'.aves evolve on globe ,# :hen the lo.est !or the -ineral"
on globe , ? re-e-ber that tho0gh it is a spirit0al planet1 yet the @-ineral@ o/ that spirit0al
planet is as dense and as gross to its inhabitants as o0r -inerals are to 0s ? has /inished its
develop-ent "or that one round/ it /eels the i-pact or i-p0lse o/ the inco-ing vegetable
2ingdo-1 and its s0rpl0s o/ li/e over/lo.s into globe %; and .hen the beast 2ingdo- in its t0rn
i-pacts 0pon the vegetable1 and .hen this latter has r0n its seven/old co0rse1 the vegetable
then in its t0rn over/lo.s into globe % do.n.ards1 and the -ineral in % passes on to globe 6;
and .hen the h0-an .orld i-p0lses into globe ,1 then the beast .orld begins to co-e do.n
into globe %1 the vegetable to pass into 61 the -ineral into =1 and so on# This is the process
d0ring the /irst ro0nd; b0t beginning .ith the second ro0nd the process changes so-e.hat
its order# %0t .e reserve this /or /0t0re st0dies#
There is an over/lo. o/ the s0rpl0s li/e /orces1 as it .ere1 /ro- every 2ingdo- into the ne3t
globe; and this co-plicated process is /ollo.ed !b0t changed1 beginning .ith ro0nd 2"
thro0gho0t all the ro0nds1 thro0gho0t all the seven globes# :hen globe B1 or the seventh1 is
reached1 there ens0es /or the li/e'.ave a nirvana1 ans.ering to the devachan or heaven
period bet.een t.o h0-an incarnations on earth; and also bet.een any t.o globes there is
a s-aller ti-e o/ rest /or the evolving li/e'.ave#
This process alone is eno0gh to set the -inds o/ -any people in be.ilder-ent# $t see-s so
co-plicated; in reality it is very si-ple# $t needs only a little honest tho0ght to 0nderstand it ?
hal/ as -0ch tho0ght as -ost people give to the -aterial things o/ li/e5 .hat shall $ eat1 .hat
shall $ p0t on1 .hat theater shall $ go to1 ho. shall $ -a2e -oney1 and so /orth#
:e have spo2en o/ lo2as and talas# :e shall to0ch 0pon that -atter -ore /0lly at o0r ne3t
-eeting# %0t re-e-ber this /act5 each one o/ these globes is divided into /o0rteen di//erent
@.orlds#@ $ do not -ean globes; $ -eancondition! or !tate! o" atter+ For instance1 .ater -ay
be ice or stea-1 and yet -ay be .ater# S0ppose that yo0 had to e3plain to a -an .ho had
never seen ice1 had seen -erely .ater1 .hat ice is; and a/ter trying to do so he said5 @The
-an raves; he is trying to tell -e that .ater1 the -ost /l0id o/ things1 0nder certain conditions
-ay beco-e cold stone#@
Secondly1 .hen .e say .orlds !.e have to 0se .ords in order to give so-e idea o/ the
-eaning" .e do not -ean globes# , globe is globe ,1 or %1 or 61 or =1 or E1 or F1 or B; b0t
each one o/ these globes co-prises or has seven lo2as1 or @places1@ or .orlds1 or conditions1
or states1 or 2inds1 o/ -atter ? s0b.orlds1 i/ yo0 li2e; and also seven talas1 -a2ing /o0rteen
altogether# lease re-e-ber also that these /o0rteen !or these t.ice seven" .orlds are not
above each other li2e the steps in a stair# They arewithin each other/ one -ore in.ard than
another1 not e3actly li2e the s2ins o/ an onion1 b0t each inner one is /iner1 -ore spirit0al1
-ore ethereal1 than its ne3t o0ter; and the -ost ethereal1 the -ost spirit0al o/ all1 is the
in-ost#
&o. these seven lo2as on each globe are the /ields o/ action o/ the ascending s0b.aves in
the racial cycles; li2e.ise1 the vario0s 2inds o/ bodies1 ethereal or physical or spirit0al1 or
.hatever else1 that the race 0ses as it passes along the evol0tionary cycles1 correspond in
te3t0re and senses .ith the vario0s lo2as passed thro0gh1 and the lo2a .hich the evolving
entity senses is that partic0lar lo2a or .orld correspondent to its bodies# ,nd the talas are the
sa-e thing on the do.n.ard s0b.aves o/ the racial cycles# The lo2as and talas are al.ays
.or2ing together1 t.o by t.o1 one o/ each1 beca0se -atter is bipolar in -ani/estation on the
globes; o/ the t.o !one lo2a and one tala"1 one is spirit0ally positive1 attracting one .ay1 and
the other is spirit0ally negative1 attracting the other .ay#
,nd1 lastly1 .e point o0t that .e are at the present ti-e in one o/ these lo2as and in one o/
these talas1 and that there are si3 other h0-anities or li/e'.aves evolving si-ilarly to o0r o.n
co0rse5 intelligent1 thin2ing beings on o0r planet ? $ do not necessarily say on o0r globe = ?
evolving thro0gh these lo2as and talas# Ao. this tho0ght stirs the i-aginationK $/ this process
o/ evol0tion did not so ta2e place1 .e say in concl0sion1 there co0ld be no co-pletely logical
and satis/actory e3planation o/ the pheno-enon that the early .riters 0pon theosophical
s0b>ects called @/i/th ro0nders@ and @si3th ro0nders#@
hapter Thirty-$i&
$nterpenetrating Spheres o/ %eing# 9o2as and Talas5 %ipolar <os-ical
rinciples and Ele-ents# The @Aeresy o/ Separateness@
,ll things are i-plicated .ith one another1 and the bond is holy; and there is hardly
anything 0nconnected .ith any other thing# For things have been co'ordinated1 and they
co-bine to /or- the sa-e 0niverse !order"# For there is one 0niverse -ade 0p o/ all
things1 and one god .ho pervades all things1 and one s0bstance1 and one la.1 !one"
co--on reason in all intelligent ani-als1 and one tr0th; i/ indeed there is also one
per/ection /or all ani-als .hich are o/ the sa-e stoc2 and participate in the sa-e reason#
? 7arc0s ,0reli0s1 Meditation!/ 71 9 !Beorge 9ong1 trans#"
&at0re has lin2ed all parts o/ her E-pire together by s0btle threads o/ -agnetic
sy-pathy1 and1 there is a -0t0al correlation even bet.een a star and a -an; # # # ? The
Mahata <etter!1 p# 2C7
$/ thro0gh the Aall o/ :isdo-1 tho0 .o0ld8st reach the Fale o/ %liss1 =isciple1 close /ast
thy senses against the great dire heresy o/ separateness that .eans thee /ro- the rest#
? The :oice o" the Silence/ pp# +'9
$& TAE EE:$SA Tal-0d there is a I0aint old story1 /0ll o/ the pro/o0nd .isdo- o/ the ancient
teachers1 abo0t /o0r candidates /or .isdo-# $t tells ho. they entered into the Barden o/
=elights1 a na-e .hich the Ee.s 0sed1 especially the Gabbalists1 to designate the real- o/
occ0ltis-1 o/ the occ0lt sciences; and the na-es o/ these /o0r candidates /or .isdo- .ere as
/ollo.s5 Ben Asai1 Ben 6o(a1 Ahher1 and Ra00i A7i0a# ,s the story goes1 @Ben Asai
loo2ed ? and lost his si)ht; Ben 6o(a loo2ed ? and lost his reason# Ahher .ent into the
Barden o/ =elights and co((itted depredations therein; b0t Ra00i A7i0a entered in
peace and le#t in peace# ,nd the ,oly One1 .hose servants .e are ? blessed be his na-e
? said5 8This old (an is worthy o# servin) us with )lory#8@
Aere are the /o0r general types o/ st0dents o/ the ancient .isdo-# Ben Asai1 .ho lost his
sight1 .as one .ho .as attracted 0y the doctrines and teachin)s and1 li2e another case
-entioned in the Bree2 legends1 looked upon the #ace o# naked truth and .as @blinded#@
,e 0eca(e1 that is1 a worse e&otericist than he .as be/ore# Ae .as 0nprepared1 0nready#
Ae had /orced his .ay into the place .here he did not belong# ,nd he inc0rred one o/ the
penalties a.aiting those .ho enter into the holy places .ith an 0np0re heart and an
0nprepared -ind#
,nd Ben 6o(a loo2ed and lost his reason; he was one whose nature was so essentially
sel#ish that he looked only #or that which he hi(sel# (i)ht )ain there#ro(# ,nd his
nat0re being 0nsteady1 .ea21 sel/'centered and sel/ish1 he lost his @reason1@ that is to say1 he
beca-e the slave instead o/ the -aster# No0 2no. the old -edieval saying that the
(a)ician who evokes the so-called %spirits o# the vasty deep/% and is not in co-plete
control o/ the-1 is -ade a.ay .ith by the-1 .hich is a saying teaching the sa-e doctrine
that .e teach o/ the 0tter necessity o/ spirit0al preparation1 -oral preparedness# @For the
p0re in heart see Bod1@ and have na0ght to /ear1 .hich is the 6hristian -ethod o/ e3pressing
the sa-e idea#
Ahher1 .ho -ade depredations in the Barden1 .as one .ho had will power and darin)1
b0t li2e.ise .as he one .ho considered sel# #irst o# all1 and he -is0sed the sacred
sciences #or sel#-advance(ent and personal )ain/ #or position1 and all the rest o/ it# Ae is
the type o/ the 0lack (a)ician1 as it is called# S0ch a one de!tro&! hi!el" by entering into a
place /or .hich he is not /itted1 that is1 ,hher .ho -ade @depredations@; and so li2e.ise did
%en Ho-a#
%0t Ra00i A7i0a1 .ho entered in peace/ and went out in peace1 .as the type o/ the (an
inwardly #ully prepared and ready1 whose nature was so puri#ied by discipline1 by !el"'
discipline1 so p0ri/ied by sel/'/orget/0lness and a recognition o/ the bea0ties o/ sel/'
abnegation in the tr0e sense1 that throu)h hi( could strea( the rays co(in) #ro( the
divine heart o# Bein)1 /ro- the spirit0al s0n#
&o.1 .hat does this allegory teach 0s; This parable sho.s 0s /irst1 that in order to be /aith/0l
disciples1 and1 second1 in order to gain that .hich .e are s0pposed to gain1 the #irst lesson
/or 0s is discipline1 self-discipline1 ethics# :e contin0ally rec0r in o0r st0dies to this point1
beca0se it is o/ the /irst i-portance# Every -an thin2s he is ethical and -oral# $s he; ,s2
yo0rsel/ .hat yo0 or $ .o0ld do 0nder real te-ptation# The French have a rather cynical
saying that @every -an has his price#@ $s it tr0e; $/ it is1 then neither yo0 nor $1 not one o/ 0s1 is
/it to sit here this evening# 4nly .hen .e have passed beyond the point .here anything on
earth can -ove 0s or s.ay o0r .ill1 or b0y 0s1 then only are .e /it to enter into the Barden o/
=elights1 li2e the old -an Rabbi ,Iiba1 .ho entered in peace and le/t in peace ? a 7aster#
:e open o0r st0dy tonight by re/erring once -ore to the e3tract /ro- the second vol0-e
o/ The Secret Doctrine/ page *921 .hich .e have read at several -eetings1 beca0se
aro0nd it circles the the-e o/ o0r present st0dy# lease note every .ord#
The Secret =octrine points o0t1 as a sel/'evident /act1 that 7an2ind1 collectively and
individ0ally1 is1 .ith all -ani/ested nat0re1 the vehicle !a" o/ the breath o/ 4ne Universal
rinciple1 in its pri-al di//erentiation; and !6" o/ the co0ntless @breaths@ proceeding /ro-
that 4ne %RE,TA in its secondary and /0rther di//erentiations1 as &at0re .ith its
-any an2ind! proceeds do.n.ards to.ard the planes that are ever increasing in
-ateriality# The pri-ary %reath in/or-s the higher Aierarchies; the secondary ? the lo.er1
on the constantly descending planes#
:e are going tonight to -a2e a great step /or.ard1 to -a2e a leap1 as it .ere1 over -any
things that -ight have been considered1 s0ch as the enor-o0sly i-portant proble-s o/
death1 and o/ the le/t'hand path1 to -ention t.o s0b>ects only# %0t .e are going to do o0r
best !altho0gh .e have not laid the /o0ndation /0lly /or it yet" to point o0t .hat the ancient
.isdo- -eant .hen it spo2e o/ spheres of being# The co--on ter- /or s0ch a sphere is
@plane1@ .hich has its val0e1 beca0se .e are acc0sto-ed to it; and yet .e -0st re-e-ber
that this .ord %lane is a loose .ord1 beca0se it -ay -ean al-ost anything as v0lgarly 0sed1
and it does not carry the /0nda-ental tho0ght that these inner .orlds are act0ally /ields o/
action1 spheres o/ being1 act0al entitative world!/ in /act#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that at o0r last st0dy .e dre. seven parallel lines1 diagra--atical1
ill0strating the seven kos(ic ele(ents1 in .hich .or2 the seven 2os-ic /orces or principles
? the energy'conscio0sness side o/ being# lease note this evening care/0lly that these
ele-ents1 the 2os-ical ele-ents1 are .orlds# 6all the- planes i/ yo0 li2e1 b0t really they are
.orlds# $ do not -ean globes1 necessarily1 that is1 solid spherical bodies# They are aro0nd
and in globes1 yet they are tr0ly .orlds1 spheres o/ action1 spheres o/ conscio0sness; and
each one o/ these 2os-ical ele-ents1 in addition to being a .orld1 is in/illed .ith its o.n
@h0-anities1@ co0ntless1 n0-berless1 inn0-erable1 beyond all h0-an co-p0tation# The
h0-an stirps1 the h0-an lineage1 race1 class1 is b0t one a-ong -any o/ the-#
The ancient .isdo- tells 0s that there are seven -ain classes o/ s0ch h0-anities or stirpes
on every planetary chain1 and that on this earth1 globe = o/ o0r chain1 -an stands at the
head o/ the classes belo. hi-# These classes are recogniDed in ordinary parlance1 in the
parlance o/ o0r science1 as 2ingdo-s5 the hu(an kin)do( !.hich is con/0sed .rongly .ith
the beast 2ingdo-" /irst; the 0east kin)do( second; the ve)eta0le kin)do( third; the
(ineral kin)do( /o0rth; and belo. that the three 2ingdo-s o/ the ele-entals ? call these
last nat0re spirits1 or s0bstirpes or s0blineages1 s0braces1 s0bli/e'.aves o/ being# ,nd yo0
.ill have noticed at o0r last -eeting that in the diagra- .e /ig0red a trian)le1 representing
the three hi)her or arupa or /or-less .orlds .hich th0s1 .ith the seven belo.1 -a2e the ten
o/ a co-plete hierarchy#
&o. these kos(ical ele(ents or worlds or spheres are divided -ore partic0larly
into lokas ? a $anskrit word (eanin) %places% in the sense o/ .orlds ? and into talas# ,nd
these are as given belo.1 0sing the na(es #ound in the Brah(anical literature o#
,industan1 na-es .hich .e have adopted /or convenience beca0se they are in that
literat0re and are -ore or less 2no.n; b0t this does not necessarily -ean that .e accept all
the ideas connected there.ith in the %rah-anical .or2s# :e 0se these na-es beca0se they
sho. that there are act0ally seven worlds or lokas1 and seven in#erior worlds or talas1
.hich .e shall begin to de/ine and brie/ly to describe this evening#
&ote that these seven 2os-ical principles and ele-ents are in /act these /o0rteen lo2as1 or
rather lo2as and talas1 seven o/ each# 9et 0s /irst en0-erate the-1 na-e the- in order5
Satya'lo2a ? 1 ? ,tala
Tapar'lo2a ? 2 ? Fitala
Eanar'lo2a ? 3 ? S0tala
7ahar'lo2a ? * ? Rasatala
S.ar'lo2a ? ( ? Talatala
%h0var'lo2a ? C ? 7ahatala
%h0r'lo2a ? 7 ? atala
First the lo2as# %eginning .ith the highest1 that is1 the in-ost1 .e /ind satyaloka/ a .ord
-eaning @reality-world@; taparloka/ the ne3t1 is a Sans2rit co-po0nd .ord -eaning
@devotion-world@ in the sense o/ @(editation1@ @conte(plation1@ @introspection@;
ne3t1 !anarloka /ro- the Sans2rit root -eaning @0irth@; maharloka -eaning @)reat@; s"ar
loka -eaning @heaven@; bhu#arloka/ an ancient .ord co-ing /ro- the Sans2rit root bhu1
-eaning @to )row@ or @develop@; and lastly bhurloka/ the lo.est# The corresponding talas
are1 co0nting do.n.ards /ro- the higher to the -ore -aterial1 atala1 #itala/ sutala/
rasatala/ talatala/ mahatala/ patala+
&o. the /irst tho0ght .hich .e -0st concentrate o0r attention 0pon is this1 that these lo2as
and talas are not one above the other li2e the r0ngs o/ a ladder; they interpenetrate1 they
interblend; they do not -erely co--ingle1 b0t interblend# , -an8s tho0ght1 /or instance1 is not
necessarily per/ectly divine or per/ectly evil# $t is co-posite1 blended1 o/ both I0alities1 b0t not
-erely -i3ed# There is nothing so -echanical as that abo0t this /act# :e are st0dying
ethereal and spirit0al -atters# These lo2as and talas blend together# For instance1 electricity1
.hether .e call it -atter or /orce1 is bipolar# There is a positive pole and a negative pole# :e
-ay call a lo2a one o/ the poles and its corresponding tala the other1 /or these correspond to
each other in t.os1 a lo2a and a tala1 each to each# Satya'lo2a to atala1 tapar'lo2a to vitala1
and so on do.n the scale1 0ntil .e co-e to the lo.est1 bh0r'lo2a and patala#
$t is co--only said in the %rah-anical literat0re that the lokas are the @heavens@ and the
talas are the @hells#@ &o. that is one .ay o/ e3pressing a pro/o0nd tr0th1 b0t .e -0st
be.are o/ these .ords heavens and hells on acco0nt o/ .rong E0ropean religio0s ideas1
associated ideas# The act0al1 esoteric -eaning is that the lo2as are the l0-ino0s arc1 or
rather that procession o/ nat0re and o/ beings in .hich spirit or the l0-ino0s arc
predo-inates# ,nd the talas are the arc o/ shado.s1 the shado.y arc1 or rather that
procession o/ nat0re and o/ beings in .hich -atter predo-inates# Each one o/ the lo2as
.or2s .ith its corresponding one o/ the talas# Aere is a root'tho0ght# No0 cannot separate
the-#
Each o/ the seven 2os-ical ele-ents corresponds1 each to each1 .ith the lo2as and1 each to
each1 .ith the talas# $n other .ords1 the seven lo2as and the seven talas .or2
correspondentially on each one o/ the 2os-ical ele-ents or .orlds# F0rther-ore1 each one
o/ the seven globes o/ o0r planetary chain has its o.n seven lo2as and seven talas by
@re/lection#@ No0 2no. the old esoteric principle lying at the basis o/ all o0r tho0ght1
e3pressed in the so'called Aer-etic a3io-1 @,s above1 so belo.; as belo.1 so above#@ The
-eaning is that o0r 0niverse1 and every part o/ it1 is not an anarchical 0niverse# Everything is
inchained .ith everything else1 and the higher is re/lected or rather re/lects itsel/ in the lo.er1
the lo.er being act0ally the e3pression o/ the higher; or1 as e3pressed in o0r /or-er three or
/o0r -eetings1 the lo.er .orlds are the gar-ents !or e3pressions1 or re/lections" o/ the
higher# &othing is separate /ro- anything else# No0 2no. the greatest heresy in %0ddhis-
!and this is li2e.ise o0r o.n teaching" is the so'called separateness1 the idea or belie/ that
anything is or can be considered apart /ro- the .hole# That is also .hat the 6hristians -eant
.hen they spo2e o/ the @cri-e against the Aoly Bhost#@ The /e. early 6hristians .ho .ere
initiated considered this cri-e as the -ost heino0s o/ iniI0ities1 and they .ere right#
&o. then1 having gone th0s /ar1 .e -ay see that these talas or in/erior .orlds are1 each to
each1 each in each1 actually the kosmical elements+ $s this tho0ght clear; &e3t1 the #orces
workin) throu)h these talas or worlds1 thro0gh these /ields o/ action ? /orces -aterial1
ethereal1 psychical1 spirit0al1 divine1 and so on ? are the principles of the kosmos/ the
consciousnesses which in#ill space and are1 in /act1 space itsel/; and these latter are the
lokas#
:e have pointed o0t that these ele(ents (ay 0e considered serially so-e.hat a/ter the
/ashion o/ the skins o# an onion# This is a #ar 0etter illustration1 as being -ore s0ggestive1
than the %Plane%-syste(1 altho0gh this syste- .as 0sed too in ancient ti-es; and .e also
pointed o0t that these skins o/ the earth1 these s2ins o/ the 2os-os1 )row (ore ethereal1
gro. -ore spirit0al1 as they proceed inwards# But we do not (ean ? please -ar2 this very
care/0lly ? that these (ore spiritual or inner worlds or spheres are s(aller1 i#e#1 in/erior
in vol0-e to the o0ter-ost rind# SiDe has nothing .hatsoever to do .ith ethereal or spirit0al
bearings# 7ere b0l2 or vol0-e has nothing .hatsoever to do .ith conscio0sness# Ao. then
can .e reconcile these t.o apparently contradictory state-ents1 this parado35 that the -ore
yo0 approach the -aterial center o/ a thing1 the denser it is; the -ore yo0 approach the
spirit0al center o/ a thing the diviner it is; No0 2no. that the old Bree2 philosophers1 the
,to-istic hilosophers so called1 s0ch as =e-ocrit0s1 9e0cipp0s1 Epic0r0s1 etc#1 /ollo.ed by
the great Ro-an poet1 90creti0s1 said /or instance in their ,to-istic theories that heaven .as
co-posed o/ the /iner1 the -ore s0btil ato-s1 and that the earth and the planetary and stellar
bodies .ere co-posed o/ those .hich .ere coarser and heavier and there/ore /ell together1
-eaning that they .ere -ore strongly attracted together# That is tr0e eno0gh1 /or it is a
state-ent -ade /ro- the tala'side1 that is to say1 the -atter'side# %0t no. listen#
:e have o/ten spo2en o/ a laya'center1 a laya'center being the seventh or highest degree o/
-atter !or the /irst degree o/ spirit"1 the vanishing'point o/ -atter into higher real-s1 the
nirvana o/ -atter1 the nirvana o/ any entity o/ .hich it is the heart1 the center# 40r laya'center
as h0-an beings is o0r at-an1 o0r 0niversal sel/# Each globe is li2e.ise an ato- or a
-onad1 or a god1 according to the plane or .orld .hich .e consider it as being in# &o. this
laya'center is at the center or heart o/ o0r being; it is1 in /act1 that core o/ o0r being1 and /ro-
it radiate1 as the rays /ro- the s0n radiate o0t.ards1 these /orces1 these ele-ents1 these
s2ins o/ being; these /orces and ele-ents or s2ins gro.ing grosser1 in one sense1 as they
proceed /arther /ro- the center# %0t the -ore ethereal the original plane is1 or the original
.orld or sphere is1 or the original /ield o/ action is1 the -ore spirit0al the originating center is1
and the .ider is its o0t/lo. o/ radiation# No0 catch that tho0ght; The spirit0al entity
contin0o0sly /lo.ing thro0gh the laya'center has rays .hich reach /ar beyond the -ore
-aterial coatings1 and .hich in the lo.est1 radiate scarcely -ore than beyond its o.n
circ0-scribed li-its# To change so-e.hat the ill0stration1 the spirit0al1 inner real-s o/ -an
or o/ globe are the vario0s @planes@ or degrees1 or spheres1 o/ the a0ric egg ? one o/ the
-ost sacred o/ o0r teachings1 and the one concerning .hich the least has been said#
9et 0s ill0strate this again by an e3oteric state-ent .ith regard to the three lowest o# the
lokas respectively1 0hur-loka1 0huvar-loka1 and swar-loka# Bhur-loka is said to be1 in the
e3oteric1 %rah-anical boo2s1 our earth# $ts /ield o/ in/l0ence reaches little /arther than the
at(osphere# Bhuvar-loka1 they say1 has rays !or an at-osphere" .hich reach to the sun1
altho0gh act0ally it is the .orld or lo2a ne3t .ithin the earth ? not another physical .orld
.ithin the physical earth1 s2in'o/'onion /ashion1 b0t an ethereal world within the physical
earth# ,nd swar-loka is a .orld still -ore ethereal or spirit0al1 .ithin bh0var'lo2a1 that has
rays !or an at-osphere" .hich reach even to "hruva1 or the polar star# This -ay ill0strate
the point#
,nd -ar2 yo01 as a nat0ral /act ded0ced /ro- this1 we could have no connection with
0ein)s outside ourselves1 or beyond o0rselves1 or .ith other planets1 or our sun or
others1 unless there were these at(ospheric 0earers or carriers1 these a0ric rays1 these
at-ospheres by .hich .e co-e into to0ch .ith other beings and globes and .orlds ? both
on o0r plane and on other planes# $s that clear; , -agnet has its -agnetis- or -agnetic
at-osphere reaching beyond itsel/1 .hich .ill ill0strate the point# $t has its li-its o/ reach1 o/
co0rse; and in the sa-e sense all these lokas and talas have their at(ospheres# The
inner ones have the at(ospheres which reach #arther than the outer lokas and talas;
and so progressively -ore so as .e go in.ards#
&o. patala1 the lowest o# the talas1 is also said to be our earth# That state-ent also is
correct /ro- the point o/ vie. o/ the 2os-ical planes# &ote also that these lo2as and these
talas are the bipolar ele-ents o/ nat0re1 the bipolar .orlds o/ being1 the ascending and the
descending5 the involving or the talas1 and the evolving or the lo2as# %y the action o/ the talas
being do-inant over the action o/ the lo2as1 .e @descend1@ to 0se the pop0lar phrase1 along
the shado.y arc1 into -ani/estation at the beginning o/ a -anvantara1 and having reached
o0r earth1 .hich is the t0rning point1 .e then ascend along the l0-ino0s arc1 the lo2as then
beco-ing the do-inant1 and the talas the recessive1 to 0se -odern biological phraseology#
$atya-loka could not e&ist without atala as its vehicle or nether pole# Tapar-loka could
not e&ist without vitala as its nether pole; and so /orth do.n the scale# This is one o/ the
-ost di//ic0lt o/ things to e3plain in E0ropean .ords; and yet really it is one o/ the si-plest o/
conceptions# :e -0st cleanse o0r -inds /irst o/ -echanical s0ggestions# :e -0st
0nderstand that .e are here dealing .ith spirit0al and psychological and ethereal -atters
and things# There co0ld be no l0-ino0s arc .itho0t the lo2as1 and no shado.y arc .itho0t
the talas1 as bases respectively ? and .hen .e say l0-ino0s or shado.y arc .e do not
-ean an act0al arc1 /or it is a /ig0re o/ speech# :e -ean those .orlds and those processes
and those processions o/ beings in nat0re by .hich1 or in .hich1 or thro0gh .hich .e
descend into -ani/estation or1 on the other hand1 by .hich .e rise and gro. into spirit0al
greatness#
S0ch are the t.o arcs respectively# 9irtue/ purity/ kindness/ co(passion/ pity/ (ercy1 etc#
? all these things are si)ns that the entity possessin) the( is evolving the spirit .ithin1
and is risin)/ ascendin)1 along the l0-ino0s arc# ,nd .here .e see sel#ishness and
i(purity and unkindliness and cruelty and deception/ hypocrisy1 etc#1 they are the si)ns
that the entity possessin) the( is 0nder the in/l0ence or do-inance o/ the descendin) or
shado.y arc1 the talas# &evertheless1 /ro- the very beginning and in either direction1 the
lokas and talas are inter0lended and .or2 together1 /or they are spirit and (atter#
These t.o1 lokas and talas1 there/ore work each within the other# For instance1 our earth1
o0r planet Terra1 o0r globe1 on and in .hich .e live1 has its own particular seven lokas
and seven talas# ,s seen /ro- the 2os-ical vie.point1 the physical lo2a and tala to o0r
present physical eyes are bh0r'lo2a and patala1 or o0r earth# 't is patala i# we look at it #ro(
the (aterial standpoint: and it is 0hur-loka i# we look at it #ro( the ener)y-
consciousness side1 /ro- the nobler or better side1 to.ards the rising side# Re-e-ber
al.ays that lokas and talas work and e&ist invariably two 0y two ? by t.os1 one o/ each1
and on every plane#
$n addition to the seven kos(ical principles being respectively these lokas1 as said be/ore1
and the kos(ical ele(ents the seven talas1 all #ourteen/ seven o# each/ are re#lected in
each one o# the seven )lo0es o/ o0r chain# @,s above1 so belo.; as belo.1 so above#@ The
little is as the great; the -icrocos- is b0t a representation or copy in s-all o/ the -acrocos-#
S0ppose that .e .ere to as2 o0rselves .ith regard to these lo2as and talas5 :here do .e
stand in the scale; 4here are we in loka and tala; 4e are in the #ourth globe o/ o0r
chain1 as .e 2no.# 9et 0s then ta2e the /o0rth lo2a and the /o0rth tala1 i#e#1 (ahar-loka
corresponding in scale .ith rasatala# %0t1 again1 we are in the #ourth round o# our
planetary chain# There/ore .e have this bipolar principle e-phasiDed by the /o0rth ro0nd
I0ality1 i#e#1 -ahar'lo2a and rasatala again# 4e are1 /0rther-ore1 in the #i#th rootrace o#
the #ourth )lo0e on the #ourth round# There/ore our root-race1 tho0gh evolving on that
/o0rth globe and in that /o0rth ro0nd1 is represented 0y the #i#th o# each colu(n5 s.ar'lo2a
and talatala# @4heels within wheels1@ as E1ekiel1 the Aebre. prophet1 nobly said#
F0rther-ore1 where are we as re)ards the kos(ic ele(ents; :e have stated this a /e.
-o-ents ago# A# # %lavats2y1 in her diagra- o/ these in The Secret Doctrine/ .hich .e
reprod0ced at o0r last -eeting1 sho.s that our )lo0e Terra stands in the lowest o# the
kos(ic ele(ents1 the seventh co0nting do.n.ards# There/ore the kos(ical ele(ent in
which we and this )lo0e are1 is 0hur-loka and patala1 2os-ically spea2ing#
$t is these actions and interactions1 these interblendings o/ lo2as and talas1 o/ these vario0s
ele-ents and /orces and principles1 .hich render any e3position o/ the- so co-plicated#
Ao.ever1 it -a2es 2no.ledge o/ the- precio0s1 /or 2no.ledge o/ these things is not cried
/ro- the ho0setops1 b0t1 as said be/ore1 is given as the re.ard o/ -erit to those /o0nd .orthy
and .ell I0ali/ied#
9et 0s approach these I0estions /ro- another standpoint# 4here are we on the kos(ical
worlds or planes; :e are told that Brah(a lives one hundred o# his years# $rahma%
re(e(0er/ is a $anskrit word standing /or the spiritual ener)y-consciousness side o#
our solar universe/ i.e./ our solar syste(1 and the E)) o# Brah(a is that solar syste(#
:e are /0rther told that his li#e is hal# ended1 /i/ty o/ his years are gone ? a /ig0re .hich .e
e3press in /i/teen /ig0res o/ o0r years1 i#e#1 1(( trillions1 (2) billions !3<</<2=/===/===/===" o#
years have passed away since our solar syste(/ with its sun/ #irst 0e)an its
(anvantaric course# There re(ain/ there#ore/ #i#ty (ore such years to pass 0e#ore the
syste( sinks into rest1 or pralaya# ,s only hal/ o/ the evol0tionary >o0rney is acco-plished1
we are1 there/ore1 at the 0otto( o# the kos(ic cycle1 i#e#1 on the lowest plane1 as the
diagra- above -entioned sho.s#
,nd where are we on this planet; 4e are on the lowest plane here also1 beca0se being
in the /o0rth ro0nd1 .e have r0n o0r co0rse only by hal/# The lo.est 2os-ical plane1 as said
above1 is 0hur-loka and patala# ,s a -atter o/ /act1 ho.ever1 as said at another st0dy1 we
have advanced a little on the ascendin) arc1 beca0se our planetary chain is the child o#
the lunar chain1 and the lunar chain was on the e&act lowest de)ree#
&o. these tho0ghts are laid be/ore yo0 tonight as s0ggestive propositions /or /0rther
consideration# Understand /irst that the universe1 according to the ancient syste-1 is
divided into seven )rades or degrees o# 0ein)1 which are worlds1 lokas and talas1 that
is1 these .orlds are polariDed into lo2as and talas1 t.o by t.o thro0gho0t# 40r earth sho.s
the- as bipolar1 beca0se it is the only planet on this plane1 in this 2os-ic ele-ent1 or .orld1
in this partic0lar degree or sphere# $t is the t0rning point o/ o0r planetary chain .here -atter'
spirit eI0ilibrates1 rendering it bipolar# &e3t1 that each one o# the seven )lo0es o/ o0r chain
has its own seven lokas and seven talas# ,s said be/ore1 they are pop0larly called
heavens and hells# &ot that they are heavens and hells in the E0ropean sense o/ the .ord1
b0t they represent the t.o sides o/ being1 the d0ality o/ -ani/estation1 the higher and the
lo.er nat0res1 i/ yo0 li2e1 as .ell o/ the planet as o/ the h0-an being#
9et 0s go a little /arther# 'n the seven lokas and seven talas o# our world1 .or2ing together
as they do1 t.o by t.o1 one o/ each1 one lo2a and one tala5 in each o# these there are
innu(era0le hosts o# 0ein)s# $n the higher ones o/ the lo2as and talas are thin2ing and
conscio0s entities1 as o0r o.n h0-an stirps !that is1 race1 lineage1 li/e'.ave" is# These lokas
and talas interpenetrate each other# ,s A# # %lavats2y says in a very noble passage
in The Secret Doctrine/ they have each one their o.n @geographical@ spheres; the
respective inha0itants o# the di##erent lokas and talas live in their own world/ pursue
their own vocations/ work out their own kar(ic destiny1 even as .e do in o0r .orld# $t is
b0t h0-an egois- that clai-s so /oolishly that o0rs is the only race o/ intelligent beings in the
bo0ndless 2os-os1 and .hich goes so /ar as even to deny intelligence and conscio0sness to
beings even on other physical planets# $t is a position .hich is intolerable to the -ind o/ really
thin2ing -en1 beca0se it is based on nothing b0t ignorance and /olly# &othing can be said /or
the clai- .hatsoever; and everything ? logic1 intellect1 analogy1 co-paring tho0ght1 int0ition
? all spea2 lo0dly to the contrary1 and proclai- that there is not an ato- o/ the in/inite real-s
o/ space .hich is not /0lly in/illed .ith its o.n appropriate and proper lines or races o/ beings#
$ beg yo0 to bear these lo2as and talas in -ind# lease thin2 o/ the- al.ays by t.os1 one o/
each1 one lo2a and one tala1 its correspondence in the scale1 ever .or2ing together1 as
inseparable as positive and negative are1 as inseparable as good and evil are1 as inseparable
as spirit and -atter# They represent and in /act are the t.o sides o/ being1 not necessarily the
body'side and the spirit'side1 b0t the t.o contrasting /orces1 the t.o contrasted sides o/
nat0re1 the night'side and the light'side1 the shado.y side and the bright side#
The three diagra-s to .hich $ no. call attention are o/ three very ancient sy(0ols co(in)
to us #ro( old Atlantean ti(es1 and /0ll o/ s0ggestive -eaning along the lines o/ o0r st0dy
tonight# 9et 0s ta2e #irst this one5 a circle divided 0y the twice curved line# Rising o0t o/
the circ0-/erence and reentering into the circ0-/erence1 the line proceeds aro0nd1 /or-ing a
/ig0re1 o/ .hich one side is shaded and the other is le/t blan2# This is a /avorite %0ddhist
sy-bol# $t is /o0nd all over the 4rient1 b0t partic0larly in %0ddhist co0ntries1 and /0rnishes
one o/ the /avorite -oti/s o/ %0ddhist art# ,ll %0ddhist art is religio0s art1 o/ co0rse# :ill yo0
please note here that in ta2ing one side1 the shaded side1 .e /ind the line leaving the
circ0-/erence at the top1 c0rving aro0nd1 then rec0rving itsel/1 and then at the botto-
reentering the circ0-/erence# ,nd .here it reenters the circ0-/erence .e /ind the side le/t
blan2 or void1 -oving /orth in the opposite direction1 /or-ing part o/ the circ0-/erence o/ the
circle1 ascending 0ntil it reaches the s0--it1 and then >oining the other line .hich /irst .ent
do.n /ro- that point in the t.ice c0rved line to re>oin the point a/ter /or-ing the other side o/
the circ0-/erence# These represent the lokas and talas1 or the invol0tion o/ spirit and the
evol0tion o/ -atter; and1 again1 the rising one the evol0tion o/ spirit1 and the invol0tion o/
-atter1 >oined and inseparable1 /or-ing one /ig0re; the circle also s0ggesting the bo0ndless
,ll; and the shadowy side su))estin) the talas1 the dar2 side or the (atter-side1 and the
side le#t void su))estin) the spirit-side1 the great illi-itable Foid o/ the bo0ndless ,ll1 o/
the bo0ndless Sel/#
$ thin2 that this design1 this sy-bol1 is one o/ the -ost bea0ti/0l1 one o/ the -ost s0ggestive1
that $ have ever 2no.n# The -ore yo0 st0dy it the -ore it s0ggests tho0ght# $t sho.s1 as said
be/ore1 o0r lo2as and o0r talas inseparable and inter.or2ing# $t sho.s the descent o/ spirit1
so to say1 and the ascent o/ -atter1 coordinately and conte-poraneo0sly; and it sho.s the
evol0tion o/ spirit1 and the invol0tion o/ -atter bac2 again into spirit1 /ro- .hich it ca-e and
.hich it /0nda-entally is#
9et 0s t0rn ne3t to another old sy(0ol# $t is the swastika1 another /avorite %0ddhist sy-bol
and other.ise /o0nd all over the 4rient1 and even all over the .orld# $t /irst su))ests (otion1
evol0tion; the 0roken ar(s 0ent at ri)ht an)les su))est li#e1 (ove(ent1 and #orward
pro)ress1 and -any other things#
&e3t1 note the cross #i)ure# :e have here ? and no. .e co-e to the sy-bol'-eaning o/
the cross 0pon .hich .e -0st lightly to0ch tonight ? /irst the vertical line1 so called the
spirit1 and then the hori1ontal line1 the (atter .hich it enters and traverses# The two work
to)ether# Ta2e a.ay either ar-1 or either part o/ the t.o lines .hich -a2e the s.asti2a1 and
yo0 no longer have a s.asti2a# This also su))ests1 tho0gh less violently1 i/ $ -ay 0se the
e3pression1 the lokas and talas insepara0ly >oined#
,nd the third o# our sy(0ols is .hat is 2no.n to scholars today as the E)yptian tau or
ansated or handled cross1 also a very old sy-bol dating /ro- ,tlantean ti-es1 and #ound
on the 0acks o# so(e o# the statues on Easter 'sland#
&ote the circle at the top o# the cross1 and the vertical line descendin) #ro( it1 sy-bolic
o/ the descent o# the spirit into (atter ? the hori1ontal line ? /ro- the sphere o# the
divine# $ts -eaning is si-ilar to that o/ the swastika# The latter1 ho.ever1 e(phasi1es the
-ove-ents and circ0lations o/ conscio0snesses in space1 or evolution; .hile the ansated
cross represents a hi)her plane ? the pri(ordial (ove(ents and states o# kos(ic
0ein)#
These sy-bols are really very bea0ti/0l# There is no need to s0lly o0r tho0ght by adverting to
I0estions o/ phallic -eaning into .hich they have been degraded# They can bear that
interpretation1 beca0se yo0 can degrade anything# ,ll li/e is one1 and one general design
r0ns thro0gh all# %0t .e shall not spea2 o/ this# The -ain thing .e .ish to point o0t no. is
that in these age'old sy-bols and partic0larly in this bipolar1 bi'vital1 lo2a'tala %0ddhistic
/ig0re1 the /irst .e disc0ssed1 .e /ind the s0ggested o0tline1 the sy-bolic or paradig-atic
/or-1 o/ the entire doctrine o/ the higher and lo.er spheres o/ being1 2os-ical or h0-an1 i#e#1
o/ the lo2as and talas#
There is one -ore thing to bring to yo0r attention1 i/ yo0 please1 and that is to point o0t at
least by s0ggestion1 the per/ect coherence o/ all the li-bs o/ li/e# Ao. can one other.ise
e3press it1 the per/ect 0nity o/ the -echanis- o/ being; The circ0lations o/ the 2os-os are
carried on not in haphaDard /or-1 b0t /ro- sphere to sphere1 /ro- .orld to .orld1 /ro- plane
to plane1 by and thro0gh conscio0snesses1 .hether they be gods1 -onads1 so0ls1 or ato-s1
.or2ing in the vario0s ele-ents; and -ore partic0larly in o0r solar syste- this is done
thro0gh the s0n and planets1 especially by and thro0gh the respective inner at-ospheres o/
their lo2as and talas#
'n occultis( there are seven sacred planets# :e recogniDe -any -ore in o0r solar
syste- than seven1 -any -ore than o0r scientists do1 b0t only seven planets are held
sacred# ,nd .hy; :e can at least say this -0ch1 that these seven planets are sacred /or 0s1
inhabitants o/ this globe1 beca0se they are the trans(itters to 0s /ro- the s0n o# the seven
pri(al #orces o# the kos(os# 40r seven principles and o0r seven ele-ents spring originally
/ro- this'seven/old li/e'/lo.#
9et 0s p0t this -atter in another light# On this plane1 o0r physical globe1 Terra/ is alone1 b0t
on the three other planes o# 0ein)1 the globes o/ o0r planetary chain1 t.o by t.o1 are not
the seven principles o/ o0r earth# That .o0ld be a /alse analogy1 /alse analogical reasoning#
:e -0st be care/0l not to be led astray by s0ch /alse analogies# The seven principles o#
our )lo0e are the seven lokas and seven talas 0elon)in) especially to earth; and the
seven principles o# each one o# the other si& )lo0es o# our planetary chain are the
respective lokas and talas 0elon)in) to each one o# the(# &o. these t.o other globes
on each plane o/ the three planes above o0rs1 -a2ing th0s the other si3 globes o/ o0r
planetary chain1 receive their respective li/e /orce1 receive their respective in/lo. o/
intellect0al and spirit0al energies and beings1 /ro- the respective lo2as and talas o/ the s0n#
There are seven suns/ 0ut only one sun on this plane1 as o0r globe is b0t one on this
plane1 the lo.est o/ the seven 2os-ical planes#
hapter Thirty-$even
The Fra-e.or2 o/ the <os-os# 9o2as and Talas5 rinciples and Ele-ents1
:orlds ! Not $tates .erely. $pace the Ulti(ate Reality.
7aitreya5 The sphere o/ the .hole earth has been described to -e1 by yo01 e3cellent
%rah-an; and $ a- no. desiro0s to hear an acco0nt o/ the other spheres !above the
.orld"1 ? the %h0var'lo2a and the rest1 ? and the sit0ation and the di-ensions o/ the
celestial l0-inaries# ? :i!hnu $urana1 21 7 !:ilson1 trans#"
She said5 @That1 4 Na>naval2ya1 .hich is above the s2y1 that .hich is beneath the earth1
that .hich is bet.een these t.o1 s2y and earth1 that .hich people call the past and the
present and the /0t0re ? across .hat is that .oven1 .arp and .oo/;@
Ae said5 @That1 4 Bargi1 .hich is above the s2y1 that .hich is beneath the earth1 that
.hich is bet.een these t.o1 s2y and earth1 that .hich people call the past and the
present and the /0t0re ? across space alone is that .oven1 .arp and .oo/#@
@,cross .hat then1 pray1 is space .oven1 .arp and .oo/;@
Ae said5 @That1 4 Bargi1 %rah-ans call the $-perishable# # # #
@$t cons0-es nothing soever#
&o one soever cons0-es it####
@Ferily1 4 Bargi1 that $-perishable is the 0nseen Seer1 the 0nheard Aearer1 the 0ntho0ght
Thin2er1 the 0n0nderstood Understander# 4ther than $t there is na0ght that sees# 4ther
than $t there is na0ght that hears# 4ther than $t there is na0ght that thin2s# 4ther than $t
there is na0ght that 0nderstands# ,cross this $-perishable1 4 Bargi1 is space .oven1
.arp and .oo/ L$t is S,6E $tsel/M#@ ? 9rihad1)ran&a2a 3%ani!had/ 31 +1 C'+1 11 !A0-e1
trans#"
$F %R4TAERA44= is the @lost chord1@ ethically spea2ing1 in 4ccidental tho0ght1 -ay .e not
say that the loss o/ the idea that the 0niverse .e sense or 2no. o/ is b0t the rind o/ things is
the ca0se o/ the spirit0al and intellect0al /eebleness o/ that sa-e 4ccidental tho0ght; :e
have lost1 as 4ccidentals1 perhaps the noblest concept o/ all the ancient .orld1 the concept
.hich1 ho.ever1 still e3ists over the larger part o/ the globe today1 and that concept1 or
2no.ledge to -any1 is the /act that the o0tside .orld1 .hich o0r physical senses tell 0s o/1 is
b0t the shell o/ things1 o/ reality and that the greater part is .ithin1 behind the veil o/ physical
e3istence# Thin2 .hat that -eans# :e see b0t the rind1 the h0s21 the shell1 the s2in o/ things;
b0t all the great -oving /orces are /ro- .ithin1 all the great circ0lations o/ the 2os-os are
behind the o0t.ard see-ing1 and this verity .as the core o/ the religio0s and philosophic
conceptions o/ the ancient .orld1 and to a large e3tent /or-s even today in the 4rient and
a-ong the so'called savage peoples ? degenerated heirs o/ a greater .isdo- o/ past ti-e ?
the philosophic and religio0s tho0ght .hich leads the- to live and to die in cal- peace and
hope# ,nd in larger spheres o/ o0r thin2ing .e -0st realiDe that i/ .e are to 0nderstand the
great proble-s o/ li/e1 the great proble-s o/ the vario0s depart-ents o/ h0-an tho0ght ?
religion1 philosophy1 and science ? .e -0st go behind this o0t.ard veil1 .e -0st penetrate
-ore deeply into the heart o/ things#
The tho0ght is s0bli-e beca0se it contains the /0nda-entals o/ the tr0e e3position o/ li/e1 and
beca0se it is a veritable 2ey to the 0nderstanding o/ the ideas .hich -otivated the
civiliDations o/ past ages; and o0r civiliDation .ill never reach that .hich it sho0ld be1 and
indeed .hich it is destined to be1 0ntil this old'.orld tho0ght is bro0ght bac2 into the
conscio0sness o/ -en# Then indeed it .ill g0ide their cond0ct beca0se it .ill give a rational
e3planation o/ the proble-s o/ being; and -en and .o-en .ill live aright1 beca0se they .ill
then 0nderstand that .hat h0-an intellect calls >0stice1 that is to say1 order1 r0les the entire
0niverse#
:e read again /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ /ro- vol0-e $$1 page *921 the sa-e e3tract that .e
have read at o0r previo0s st0dies1 /o0r or /ive o/ the-1 beca0se it still /or-s the -ain the-e
o/ .hat .e are here considering and trying to 0nderstand5
The Secret =octrine points o0t1 as a sel/'evident /act1 that 7an2ind1 collectively and
individ0ally1 is1 .ith all -ani/ested nat0re1 the vehicle !a" o/ the breath o/ 4ne Universal
rinciple1 in its pri-al di//erentiation; and !6" o/ the co0ntless @breaths@ proceeding /ro-
that 4ne %RE,TA in its secondary and /0rther di//erentiations1 as &at0re .ith its
-any an2ind! proceeds do.n.ards to.ard the planes that are ever increasing in
-ateriality# The pri-ary %reath in/or-s the higher Aierarchies; the secondary ? the lo.er1
on the constantly descending planes#
:e contin0e o0r st0dy this evening o/ the /ra-e.or2 o/ the 2os-os; and this /ra-e.or2 itsel/
is constr0cted in the -anner pointed o0t in o0r last st0dy1 i#e#1 by the lo2as and talas# ,nd
great1 0nI0estionably1 .as the patience o/ all here at o0r last -eeting1 .ho listened to o0r
st0dy1 to o0r tho0ght1 and realiDed the i--ense co-ple3ity o/ a /irst presentation o/ these
things ? .ho do0btless sa. that .e .ere /ollo.ing as closely as possible the -ethods o/
st0dy 0sed in the ancient 7ystery Schools; and one o/ these -ethods .as never at the /irst
approach o/ a ne. s0b>ect1 openly and /0lly1 to voice the teaching concerning it1 b0t to begin
it /irst by hint and also by tal2ing aro0nd it1 abo0t it1 never at it or o/ it# There .ere several
reasons /or this1 /o0nded on a pro/o0nd 2no.ledge o/ h0-an psychology# The .hole e//ort is
to enable the hearer or reader to brea2 his o.n -olds o/ -ind; nothing perhaps1 2no.ing
h0-an nat0re as .e do1 so antagoniDes the h0-an -ind or renders it -ore co-bative than
to thro. an idea at it1 so to say# %0t let the hearer or reader /irst /eel that he is ta2en into the
tho0ght by indirection1 and by an appeal to his o.n inner spirit ? /or1 indeed1 he .ants to
brea2 his -olds o/ -ind hi-sel/ in the /irst instance1 and to 0nderstand o/ his o.n initiative;
and he is right# 40r /irst d0ty is to open the .ay to the hearer to thin2 "or hi!el"+
This evening1 ho.ever1 having /ollo.ed the above -ethod at o0r last -eeting1 .e are going
to approach the -atter directly1 and clear 0p the apparent con/0sion#
4ne o/ the other -ethods .hich .e have /ollo.ed ? and yo0 have do0btless noticed it ? is
the 0se o/ the /ig0re o/ speech called the parado31 /or precisely the sa-e reasons o0tlined
above# :e -0st1 above all things1 prevent the crystalliDation o/ the -entality aro0nd one
tho0ght; and e3perience has sho.n that the best .ay to do this is /irst to tal2 aro0nd and
abo0t a thing; then to present one aspect1 and then1 i/ possible1 a contrasting aspect1 the
antithesis or polar opposite o/ the /or-er aspect; and very soon the -ind .hich 0ndergoes
this process1 realiDes it and says to itsel/5 @$ a- not going to allo. -y -ind to crystalliDe
abo0t this tho0ght alone; so-ething -ore is co-ing1 another vie.# $ .ill a.ait1 be/ore
>0dging#@ This process tends1 above everything else1 to prevent dog-atis-1 .hether in
religion1 or philosophy1 or science# ,nd -ar2 yo01 it is the e3act opposite o/ the -ethods o/
instr0ction so dear to the 4ccidental heart1 .hich li2e.ise is /ascinated by the enti/ying o/
abstractions# This enti/ication o/ abstracts1 as yo0 2no.1 is the leaning or the atte-pt
-entally to thin2 o/ abstractions as real entities# $t is the e3act opposite o/ the -ethod
/ollo.ed in all ancient civiliDations1 and even in the 4rient today1 in dealing .ith pro/o0nd
psychological or spirit0al -atters# Their .ise old teachers sho.ed the- that the enti/ication
o/ abstractions distracts the -ind and leads it a.ay /ro- the pri-al tr0ths o/ being1 /or the
-ind /eels te-porarily satis/ied .ith phantas-s instead o/ realities1 and precio0s ti-e is lost;
.hile the -ind itsel/ is lost in -aDes o/ 0nrealities# This is another e3a-ple o/ the pro/o0nd
2no.ledge o/ h0-an psychology that the ancient teachers had#
Even in the 6hristian sche-e o/ tho0ght1 .e /ind a0l /ollo.ing the sa-e line o/ real
entitative instr0ction by parable and trope1 in the old -anner1 in his 9etters1 in his Epistles1 to
the vario0s so'called ch0rches# $/ the 6hristian e3egetes1 the theologians1 .ere st0dents o/
the ancient .isdo-1 they .o0ld 2no. at least eno0gh not to ta2e the .ords o/ a0l literally1
beca0se a0l .as an initiate1 as is sho.n very clearly by his o.n .ritings ? not necessarily a
high initiate1 beca0se this .ord initiate -erely -eans one .ho has @entered into@ a syste-1
and .ho there/ore has so-e 2no.ledge1 has received one aspect at least1 has passed
thro0gh one rite or -ore o/ the ancient .isdo-#
No0 2no. that a0l in his second Epistle to the 6orinthians1 chapter 121 verses 21 31 *1 .rites
as /ollo.s5 @$ 2no. a -an in 6hrist@ ? note the .ording1 he does not say @$ 2no. a /riend o/
6hrist1@ b0t @$ 2no. a -an in 6hrist@ ? @/o0rteen years agone !.hether in body $ 2no. not1
.hether o0t o/ body $ 2no. not1 Bod 2no.eth"# S0ch a one being ca0ght 0p to the third
heaven# ,nd $ 2no. s0ch a -an !.hether in body1 .hether o0t o/ body $ 2no. not1 Bod
2no.eth"1 that he .as ca0ght 0p into the aradise1 and heard things not to be div0lged1
.hich are not la./0l /or a -an to 0tter#@
&o. .e have -ade o0r o.n translation o/ these lines /ro- the Bree2 original1 and .hile
there is no need to repeat the Bree2 .ords1 $ .ish to point o0t that the very .ords that a0l
0ses here1 @heard things not to be div0lged1@ etc#1 etc#1 are the sacra-ental .ords1 so to
spea21 the sacred .ords1 0sed in the -ystic cere-onials o/ the ancient teachings# F0rther1
this sho.s very clearly that this -an .as a0l hi-sel/1 other.ise he .o0ld have 2no.n
nothing o/ it#
Thirdly1 .hen he sho.s that this -an1 he hi-sel/1 .as @ca0ght 0p to the third heaven1@ $ -0st
point o0t that i/ o0r theologians 2ne. so-ething o/ the lang0age o/ the 7ysteries1 they .o0ld
at least 0nderstand that this e3pression @third heaven@ is an old /or- or sy-bol o/ speech o/
the initiations#
Re-e-ber1 .e have spo2en at other ones o/ o0r st0dies o/ the /act that beginning .ith the
/o0rth degree o/ initiation1 in the ancient ti-es1 the candidate .as -ade to 6e or to 6ecoe ?
/or the ti-e being ? that .hich he had hereto/ore been ta0ght o/; he .as -ade to go into the
di//erent lo2as and talas and te-porarily 6e the things there in order to 2now the+ 4ne o/
the -ethods o/ describing this /act .as spea2ing o/ being in or o/ the /irst heaven1 the second
heaven1 the third heaven1 the /o0rth1 and so on# $t .as another .ay o/ saying1 by a0l1 @$n -y
third initiation $ heard things not to be div0lged1 .hich it is not la./0l /or a -an to 0tter#@
&o. an e3a-ple o/ this enti/ication o/ abstractions1 this giving to phantas-al notions both
s0bstance and /or-1 is sho.n clearly in the scienti/ic and philosophic .ritings o/ o0r
E0ropean thin2ers1 .hen they 0se the .ord !%ace in the sense o/ a -ere concept# Space to
the- is an abstraction; to 0s1 the 0lti-ate being1 reality1 all'li/e# E0st thin2 .hat that -eans#
Space1 e@ h&%othe!i1 is bo0ndless1 is .hat .e call in/inite; and yet they .rite o/ it and tal2 o/ it
and spea2 o/ it as a -ere container1 a /inite thing1 and spea2 o/ the @di-ensions o/ space#@
Space1 as bo0ndless'all'li/e1 can have no di-ensions# No0 cannot bo0nd or -ete or -eas0re
the in/inite# :hat they -ean is the di-ensions o/ -atter1 -ens0ration# They predicate a
concept0al abstraction1 then proceed to endo. it .ith /inite attrib0tes ? enti/ying it1 as said
above; /or to the-1 space is a -ere -ental representation#
So-e o/ o0r 4ccidental thin2ers are even spea2ing o/ the @/o0rth di-ension o/ space1@
i-plying that there are others beyond1 a /i/th1 a si3th perhaps# &o. .e do not ad-it this idea#
Space can have no di-ensions# 7atter can have three di-ensions only1 beca0se1 as yo0 .ill
readily see1 .hen yo0 e3press the -etes and bo0nds o/ -ani/ested s0bstance by length1 and
breadth1 and depth1 yo0 have covered the entire /ield that it presents# %0t .hat is it in these
-inds .hich ind0ces the- to h0nt and search /or .hat they so inacc0rately call the
di-ensions o/ space; $t is the int0ition1 the recognition1 o/ .orlds .ithin the o0ter rind or
shell1 spo2en o/ be/ore# There is no s0ch thing in nat0re as @Flatland@ or a t.o'di-ensional
.orld1 or a one'di-ensional .orld1 beca0se each .orld co-prises all @di-ensions#@
6onsider .hat .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ the principles and ele-ents o/ the 2os-os1 as
pointed o0t in o0r last st0dy# The ele-ents are .orlds1 and the principles are the spirit0al
/orces1 entities1 spirit0al intelligences at the root o/ the-1 .hich .or2 thro0gh those .orlds or
ele-ents# ,nd .hat do .e -ean by .orld; :e -ean e3actly .hat the English 0sage o/ the
.ord @.orld@ is# :e go o0t 0pon o0r ho0setops1 or into the roads1 or into a /ield1 and see
.hat .e call the 0niverse aro0nd 0s1 the stars1 and the s0n1 and again the beings on earth;
and all this is a .orld# &o1 it is not a globe# , globe is -erely one o/ the entities or bodies in a
.orld# So1 at o0r last -eeting1 .hen .e said that these lo2as and talas are not globes b0t
.orlds1 .e -eant >0st that# :e -ay perhaps call the- spheres1 i/ yo0 li2e1 b0t not by 0sing
the .ord @sphere1@ please1 in the physical1 geo-etrical sense# :e 0se it rather in a -ore
abstract sense1 as .hen .e spea2 o/ the sphere o/ one8s activity1 the -0sical sphere or the
-0sical .orld1 the intellect0al or -aterial spheres or .orlds# %0t the .ord @.orld@ /or o0r
present p0rposes1 in order to describe these lo2as and talas1 is /ar better# Ety-ologically it
.o0ld never do1 beca0se this ,nglo'Sa3on .ord .as originally weorold1 -eaning @-an'age1@
i#e#1 -eaning the age o/ a -an1 de/initely1 in those ti-es1 ta2en as o/ one h0ndred years and
co--only spo2en o/ in literary 0sage as an age# $t is interesting that this .ord @.orld@ closely
corresponds .ith the -eaning1 .ith the t.o -eanings rather1 o/ the Bree2 .ord aion/ or
aeon1 .hich originally -eant .ith the Bree2 Bnostics both an epoch o/ ti-e1 a period o/ ti-e1
and a spirit0al being or .orld#
&o. these lo2as and talas1 i/ .e re/er the- to the 2os-os1 are re!%ecti4el& the %rinci%le!
and eleent! o" the 2o!o!+ The lo2as are the principles1 and the talas are the ele-ents#
9o2a -eans @.orld#@ The principles1 ho.ever1 are as -0ch .orlds as the ele-ents are# The
principles o/ the 2os-os are higher 2os-ic .orlds as the ele-ents are lo.er 2os-ic .orlds#
a0se a -o-ent1 and see ho. si-ple this conception really is# :e see the physical .orld
aro0nd 0s1 the physical 0niverse# :e are ta0ght in o0r sacred science !in occ0ltis-1 that is"
that the .orld has seven so'called planes# ,s re-ar2ed be/ore1 this .ord @plane@ is an
0n/ort0nate ter- in so-e .ays1 beca0se people associate it .ith its geo-etrical -eaning o/
a /lat s0r/ace# $t is a loose ter-1 b0t it is /a-iliar and there/ore it is convenient# The ele-ents1
the talas1 are .orlds; so are the lo2as; they represent together1 in other .ords1 .hat is
pop0larly called the seven principles o/ the 2os-os# The seven principles o/ the 2os-os
correspond in their ele-ent'side to the talas; and the seven principles1 per se1 o/ the 2os-os1
that is to say1 the spirit0al side1 correspond to the seven lo2as#
The di//ic0lty /or 0s arises1 perhaps1 beca0se .e have been so acc0sto-ed to spea2 o/ the
seven principles o/ -an and1 4ccidentals as .e are1 .e thin2 o/ the- only as abstractions;
acc0sto-ed to o0r habit o/ enti/ying abstractions1 .e do not conceive o/ the- as real1
essential things1 so that perhaps in o0r -inds .e have red0ced these principles o/ -an
al-ost to -ere .ords# %0t1 as pointed o0t in a /or-er st0dy1 -an has seven principles and
also seven ele-ents or vehicles in .hich those principles .or21 each principle in its
appropriate vehicle1 each principle in its corresponding ele-ent# Net .e sho0ld consider the
2os-os in precisely the sa-e -anner1 beca0se -an is b0t a re/lection o/ the 2os-os1 he is
the -icrocos- o/ the -acrocos- ? @,s above1 so belo.; as belo.1 so above#@
So then1 2no.ing that o0r 0niverse has seven planes1 that is1 seven ele-ents /ro- one
vie.point1 and seven principles or the energy'conscio0sness side /ro- another vie.point1 .e
-ay no. de/initely say that the ele-ent'side1 the vehicle'side1 the -atter'side1 the dar2 side1
is the tala'side# The seven talas are the seven ele-ents or -atter'.orlds o/ 2os-os; and the
seven lo2as ? .hich are .orlds also ? are the seven principles o/ the 2os-os#
&o. i/ .e .ere able to ascend into any one o/ the higher ele-ents and principles o/ the
2os-os1 .e sho0ld /ind o0r present .orld red0plicated ? .ith -odi/ications1 nat0rally; b0t
each one o/ these ele-ents and principles is a 2os-ic .orld1 a tala or a lo2a respectively#
4ne o/ the -ost interesting sy-bols in 0se by -en o/ the ancient .orld1 by .hich they
described these inseparable lo2as and talas1 .as .hat is called in Aind0stan Fishn08s Sign1
and .hich /or so-e 0n2no.n reason a-ong E0ropean -ystics is called Solo-on8s Seal#
This sy-bol is one o/ the -ost .idespread1 /a-iliar1 and /avorite sy-bols o/ the ,siatic'
E0ropean .orld#
:e have here t.o interlaced triangles1 one pointing 0p.ards and one pointing do.n.ards1
inseparably 0nited in order to /or- this sy-bol# Separate the-1 and this sy-bol no longer
e3ists# The triangle .ith its point 0p.ards represents the lo2as1 and the one .ith its point
do.n.ards1 the talas# This is li2e.ise a sy-bol o/ h0-an and 2os-ic evol0tion1 o/ the d0ality
in nat0re1 and o/ the interplay o/ the spirit0al and -aterial /orces in li/e# $/ .e .ere to p0t a
point in the center o/ these interlaced triangles1 .e sho0ld i--ediately trans/er its sy-bolic
-eaning to incipient 2os-ic evol0tion1 it then beco-ing so-e.hat li2e the /ig0re o/ the circle
.ith the central point# ,lso1 in h0-an -atters1 it .o0ld then be the sy-bol o/ .hat .e call a
7aster# So-eti-es1 in the last sense1 it is .ritten in -ore si-ple shape1 as three dots in
triang0lar /or-# So-eti-es again the three dots have a /o0rth in the center1 .hich is b0t an
abbreviated /or- o/ this sa-e /ig0re; b0t in this case the triangle al.ays points 0p.ards1 /or it
sho.s that the aspiration o/ the -an sy-boliDed is 0p.ards1 signi/ying the ascent thro0gh
the lo2as#
This brings 0s to o0r ne3t point1 and that is that .hile it is tr0e that these lo2as and talas are
@states@ in a general sense1 it is only so in the sense in .hich heavens and hells -ay be so
considered# They are states1 o/ co0rse1 b0t they are also localities1 beca0se any entity in or
possessing a state -0st6e so-e.here# =evachan and nirvana are not localities1 they are
states1 states o/ the beings in those respective spirit0al conditions# =evachan is the
inter-ediate state; nirvana is the s0perspirit0al state; and avichi1 pop0larly called the lo.est
o/ the hells1 is the nether pole o/ the spirit0al condition# These three are states o/ beings
having habitat in the lo2as or talas1 i#e#1 in the .orlds o/ the 2os-ic egg# ,nd secondly1 .hile
the heavens and hells are considered as states1 .e -0st re-e-ber that hell or heaven is not
a condition .hich e3ists per se1 as does a .orld# Each is the state o/ so-e thing or so-e
entity .hich is in that state1 and .hich1 there/ore1 being an entity1 -0st have position or place
and1 according to the invariable r0les .hich govern the 2os-os1 s0ch states -0st be li2e.ise
correspondential to si-ilar s0rro0ndings ? in other .ords1 a being in heaven or hell is in a
corresponding lo2a or tala#
So then1 be/ore closing tonight1 .e hope that .e have -ade one thing per/ectly clear1 that is1
to p0t it brie/ly1 that these lo2as and talas are respectively the principles and ele-ents o/ the
2os-os1 and also o/ every globe in that 2os-os1 each one o/ .hich possesses seven lo2as
and seven talas# These lo2as and talas are inseparable1 and each one corresponds to a
si-ilar one o/ the other line# That is clear1 is it not; The t.o highest together1 the t.o lo.est
together1 and the inter-ediate in the sa-e .ay# lease re-e-ber the -ain tho0ght1 that
these lo2as and talas are world!+They are not -ere states only1 .hich -eans nothing# ,n
entity possesses or is in a state1 b0t a state does not e3ist per se or @by itsel/#@ That idea
arises o0t o/ the /ondness o/ o0r -inds /or enti/ying abstractions# , state is an abstraction# $t
-0st be held or possessed or developed by so-e entity in order to be anything#
,nd /inally1 please re-e-ber this1 that each one o/ these lo2as and each one o/ these talas
prod0ces the /ollo.ing lo.er one o/ the scale /ro- itsel/1 as pointed o0t be/ore .hen .e
st0died brie/ly the ele-ents# The highest o/ either line pro>ects or sends /orth the ne3t lo.er#
$t1 in addition to its o.n partic0lar characteristic or s.abhava1 contains also .ithin itsel/ the
nat0re o/ the one above it1 its parent1 and also sends /orth the one lo.er than it1 the third in
the line do.n.ards# ,nd so on do.n the scale# So that each one o/ the principles or
ele-ents is li2e.ise seven/old1 containing in itsel/ the s0bele-ents o/ that or those o/ .hich it
is the re/lection /ro- above#
hapter Thirty-Ei)ht
=egeneration and 6losing o/ the Schools o/ the 7ysteries# &eopythagorean and
&eoplatonic Syste-s5 7ain So0rces o/ 6hristian Theology# Esoteric and
E3oteric Teachings5 Sy-bolis-#
There never .as1 nor can there be -ore than one 0niversal religion; /or there can be b0t
one tr0th concerning Bod# 9i2e an i--ense chain .hose 0pper end1 the alpha1 re-ains
invisibly e-anating /ro- a =eity ? in !tatu a6!condito .ith every pri-itive theology ? it
encircles o0r globe in every direction; it leaves not even the dar2est corner 0nvisited1
be/ore the other end1 the o-ega1 t0rns bac2 on its .ay to be again received .here it /irst
e-anated# 4n this divine chain .as str0ng the e3oteric sy-bology o/ every people# Their
variety o/ /or- is po.erless to a//ect their s0bstance1 and 0nder their diverse ideal types
o/ the 0niverse o/ -atter1 sy-boliDing its vivi/ying principles1 the 0ncorr0pted i--aterial
i-age o/ the spirit o/ being g0iding the- is the sa-e# # # #
Th0s is it that all the religio0s -on0-ents o/ old1 in .hatever land or 0nder .hatever
cli-ate1 are the e3pression o/ the sa-e identical tho0ghts1 the 2ey to .hich is in the
esoteric doctrine# ? 0!i! 3n4eiled/ $1 (C)'C1
The in/erence to be dra.n /ro- all this is1 that the -ade'0p and dog-atic 6hristianity o/
the 6onstantinian period is si-ply an o//spring o/ the n0-ero0s con/licting sects1 hal/'
castes the-selves1 born o/ agan parents# ? $bid#1 $$1 33*
%0t to assert that 6hristianity co--0nicated to -an -oral tr0ths previo0sly 0n2no.n1
arg0es1 on the part o/ the assertor1 either gross ignorance or else .il/0l /ra0d# ? A# T#
%0c2le1 .i!tor& o" *i4ili=ation in #ngland1 $1 129
R4%,%9N there are /e. things that h0-an beings are so irritable abo0t as the vario0s
iss0es involved in I0estioning an accepted religion# 40tside o/ the /act that everyone 2no.s
that religio0s .ars have al.ays been the bloodiest and bitterest in history1 even in ordinary
li/e1 i/ a -an8s religio0s belie/s1 or even his vag0e religio0s vie.s1 are to0ched 0pon
adversely1 there is aro0sed in hi- a /eeling o/ antagonis-# $n .ell'bred -en and .o-en this
antagonis- does not go /ar1 beca0se they are .illing to concede to another a vie. di//erent
/ro- their o.n; b0t1 sadly eno0gh1 it .o0ld see- that there is very little good breeding in
-atters o/ religio0s /eeling# &o -an li2es to /eel that his religion is s0b>ect to derision or
-oc2ery1 beca0se o/ co0rse to hi- his religion is the @tr0e religion#@ $t has al.ays been so
a-ong the adherents o/ any religion# $t is only the .iser ones .ho are .illing to see a vie.
.hich a /ello. -an sees1 and to consider that vie. honestly1 desiro0s o/ arriving at so-e
2no.ledge o/ .hat the critic or the spea2er hi-sel/ believes1 or sees#
Especially is this so in all the vario0s branches o/ 4ccidental religio0s tho0ght1 derived1 as .e
2no.1 /ro- 6hristianity and E0dais-# The old religions1 the religions o/ the ancient .orld1 had
their pop0lar -ythologies .hich the people believed in; and so-e o/ these old religions are
still e3tant today in the 4rient and else.here# %0t even a-ong those .ho .ere not initiated
into the 7ysteries1 .hich gave -en a .ider vision o/ tr0th and a deeper 2no.ledge o/ h0-an
nat0re1 even a-ong those .ho had nothing to live by e3cept the vario0s -ythologies1 and
.ho today have nothing to live by e3cept the vario0s -ythologies1 in all these religions1
e3cepting the 6hristian1 there is a /eeling a-ong their adherents that the other -an -ay
2no. so-ething o/ val0e too# $ have o/ten .ondered ho. -0ch in the Theosophical
7ove-ent this spirit o/ 6hristian and I0asi'Ee.ish antagonis- against another -an8s belie/
act0ally e3ists a-ong o0rselves#
This spirit o/ religio0s bigotry1 o/ co0rse1 has res0lted1 as .e all 2no.1 in the vario0s religio0s
persec0tions1 in the vario0s tort0rings ? physical or other ? and inI0isitorial actions o/ the
bigots in te-porary po.er# No0 /ind nothing li2e that in any o/ the ancient religions o/ the
globe1 neither in present nor in past ti-es# :hy sho0ld it have been and even yet be in the
religion o/ the 4ccident; ,s said be/ore1 it -0st certainly lie in the /act that the adherents
thereo/ have lost the 2ey to the inner 2no.ledge o/ their o.n religio0s belie/s; and this dates
very /ar bac2# :e /ind Bregory &aDianDen1 canoniDed as one o/ the saints o/ the 6hristian
6h0rch1 .riting to Eero-e1 another saint o/ the 6h0rch1 his /riend and con/idant1 abo0t the
.ay doctrines sho0ld be ta0ght1 and this is .hat he says5
&othing i-poses better on people than verbiage1 /or the less they 0nderstand the -ore
they ad-ire# 40r Fathers and teachers o/ten have ta0ght1 not .hat they tho0ght1 b0t that
.hich necessity and circ0-stance obliged the- to say#
$/ .e co-pare this .ith the spirit .hich -otivated the great religions o/ past ti-es1 .e realiDe
that a-ong the initiates o/ the latter the very e3pression o/ a tho0ght .hich they /elt contrary
to tr0th .as 0ttered to the pre>0dice o/ a -an8s o.n so0l; that living as @.hited sep0lchres1@ to
0se the 6hristian sy-bol1 i#e#1 living as hypocrites1 living a living lie1 .as considered the one
thing that -ost e//ectively shriveled the so0l o/ a -an1 that ate o0t the core o/ his being1 and
rendered hi- 0tterly 0n/it1 not -erely /or an appreciation o/ the deeper -ysteries .hich lie
.ithin nat0re and .ithin -an hi-sel/1 b0t li2e.ise 0tterly 0n/it to 0ndergo the least o/ the tests
preceding the act0al trials o/ the initiation cere-onies#
Even at the ti-e .hen the 6hristian religion is s0pposed /irst to have beg0n its career1
altho0gh the 7ysteries1 the initiation syste-s1 had greatly degenerated1 they still retained
-ore or less o/ the ancient spirit0al /ire and o/ the ancient tr0ths# So that a Ro-an e-peror1
&ero1 -aster o/ the :estern .orld1 .as told to his /ace that he .as 0n/it to pass thro0gh the
rites at Ele0sis1 and he dared not go there /or that p0rpose# ,nd &ero .as by no -eans as
bad a -an as his 6hristian critics have tried to -a2e hi- o0t to have been# :e have no .ish
to .hite.ash a blac2 character1 b0t he .as by no -eans1 and .e repeat it1 as blac2 in his li/e
or in the things he did1 as so-e -en .ho pass -0ster as near'canoniDed saints in the
hagiological lists o/ 6hristendo-#
For one tho0sand years1 beginning /ro- the ti-e o/ ythagoras and ending abo0t the ti-e o/
E0stinian1 the night o/ an inco-ing dar2 cycle .as beginning to settle 0pon the .orld; and this
period is c0t in t.ain at >0st abo0t the ti-e .hen the birth o/ Ees0s is s0pposed to have
occ0rred# ythagoras lived in the si3th cent0ry be/ore the rep0ted beginning o/ o0r era1 i#e#1
the present era that is accepted by 4ccidental peoples; and E0stinian lived in the si3th
cent0ry a/ter the beginning o/ that era; and it .as in his age1 and by his order1 that the last o/
the 7ystery Schools .as closed at ,thens1 and seven -en /led at peril o/ their lives to
<hosr0 the Breat1 <ing o/ ersia1 and lived there in peace and dignity and honor at his co0rt
0ntil1 d0e to the .hirl o/ the .heel o/ circ0-stance1 <hosr01 victor in his .ar against E0stinian1
as one condition o/ the peace .hich E0stinian p0rchased .ith -oney1 laid it do.n that these
seven philosophers .ere to be allo.ed to ret0rn to their o.n co0ntry in peace and to live in
peace1 and to die in peace; and so it .as#
6o-pare that noble spirit .ith the spirit -ani/est on the other side1 and yo0 have a slight
vision o/ the inspiration .hich d.elt in .hat .as called the ancient initiatory li/e1 and o/ the
spirit .hich has hovered over the :estern .orld ever since that year one o/ o0r era1 so
na-ed1 the 6hristian era#
This does not -ean that the slightest aspersion is hereby cast 0pon the character o/ the so'
called Ees0s# &ot one .ord .o0ld a tr0e theosophist ever say against the character o/ that
great and noble -an1 or against the teachings s0pposed to e-anate /ro- hi- personally# %0t
it is probable that the theosophic e//ort .hich Ees0s atte-pted to initiate did not end0re /or
/i/ty years a/ter his death# ,l-ost i--ediately a/ter his passing1 his disciples1 all hal/'
instr0cted1 and in so-e cases al-ost illiterate1 -en ? .hen $ say @hal/'instr0cted@ $ -ean
having very little 2no.ledge o/ the teachings .hich their great 7aster atte-pted to give the-
? /oisted 0pon the .orld o/ their ti-e the /or-s and belie/s o/ early 6hristianity; and had there
been nothing b0t these1 that religio0s syste- had not lived another /i/ty years# %0t .hat
happened; =0ring the onco-ing o/ the dar2 cycle a/ter Ees0s !.hich began as be/ore said
abo0t the ti-e o/ ythagoras"1 the last /e. rays /ro- the setting s0n o/ the ancient light
shone /eebly in the -inds o/ certain o/ these 6hristian Fathers1 6le-ent o/ ,le3andria /or
one1 and 4rigen o/ ,le3andria /or another1 and in one or t.o -ore li2e these1 .ho had been
initiated at least in the lo.est o/ so-e o/ the then degenerate pagan 7ysteries; and these
-en entered into the 6hristian 6h0rch and introd0ced so-e poor -odic0- o/ that light1 so-e
poor rays o/ it1 as it .ere1 .hich they still cherished; and these rays they derived -ainly /ro-
the &eopythagorean and the &eoplatonic syste-s#
eople spea2 o/ 6hristianity as i/ it .ere .holly derived /ro- E0dais-# Fery little o/ it is# $t is1
in its theology1 al-ost .holly derived /ro- -is0nderstood Bree2 tho0ght1 -ainly1 as said1
/ro- the &eopythagorean and &eoplatonic syste-s; and this is obvio0s to anyone .ho reads
the .ritings o/ those .ho are called the great doctors o/ 6hristian theology1 s0ch as
=ionysi0s1 the so'called ,reopagite1 .hose syste- is1 in essentials1 entirely ta2en /ro- the
&eoplatonic philosophy# 7ainly derived /ro- hi-1 again1 are the present standard theological
.or2s o/ the 6h0rch o/ Ro-e5 $ -ean the .or2s o/ Tho-as ,I0inas# These are today the
standard by .hich the theology o/ Ro-e is directed and settled .hen disp0ted points are to
be ad>0dicated# ,nd yet1 .hile this is so1 and .hile -0ch o/ that .hich .as ta2en over by the
early 6hristian Fathers still re-ains as /actors and .ords in the 6hristian theology1 it has
0tterly /orgotten the spirit o/ these early pagan tho0ghts; and that religion today stands
red0ced to a syste- o/ /or-s and cere-onies1 -ostly#
&o. this is the sit0ation that .e are /acing in the 4ccident1 and above everything else it is
o0r d0ty to bring bac2 the old spirit0al li/e1 the old spirit0al /ire1 the holy /ire o/ the ancient
days1 to o0r /ello. -en5 not to -a2e the .orld pagan again ? i/ .e can 0se that ter- pagan
in the sense o/ reintrod0cing the old Bree2 or Ro-an -ythology1 not at all; nor to -a2e it
%0ddhist in the sense o/ introd0cing the present %0ddhist religion; nor %rah-anical; nor
Horoastrian; beca0se all these in their t0rn are -ore or less degenerate ? b0t to bring bac2
the essence o/ tr0e religion1 the living tr0ths1 .hich all the great 7asters o/ the .orld /ro-
i--e-orial ti-e have ta0ght#
The 6hristians say that the blood o/ the saints1 the blood o/ the -artyrs1 is the @seed o/ the
6h0rch#@ 9et 0s so live that o0r lives shall be the seed o/ the great ch0rch or /ello.ship o/ the
/0t0re# Ethics lie at the root o/ it all; ethics1 in the heart and -ind o/ -an1 are the spirit0al light
shining thro0gh his intellect# They are a g0ide1 a light 0nto o0r /eet .hen honestly practiced1
0n/ailing1 giving in/inite peace to the h0-an heart# :hen .e say ethics and -orals .e do not
-ean -erely conventional syste-s o/ right cond0ct1 tho0gh those -ay be good also# :e
-ean the c0ltivation o/ the 0nderstanding1 o/ the instinct living in the so0l o/ -an1 o/ his
int0itional perception1 that right is right and .rong is .rong1 o0tside o/ any conventional
syste-s .hatsoever1 and that i/ a -an errs1 he .or2s1 not only to his o.n 0ndoing1 b0t to the
0ndoing o/ others .ith .ho- he is inseparably lin2ed#
:e have been st0dying at o0r last /e. -eetings the the-e o/ 'od!/
Monad!/ and )to!/ and .e have seen that these are related to and ca0sative o/ the
evol0tion o/ the 2os-os by their inter.or2ing in the lo2as and talas ? and .e have seen that
these lo2as and talas co-prise the str0ct0re1 the /ra-e.or21 the carpentry1 o/ the 0niverse;
that they in/ill space1 and in /act are space itsel/# There is not1 in the absol0te sense1 a void
point any.here# ,ll being is in/illed .ith s.ar-ing -0ltit0des o/ entities in the vario0s and
-ani/old degrees o/ develop-ent in .hich they /ind the-selves# %0t all /ollo. certain general
r0les o/ order1 certain /0nda-ental operations o/ the 2os-os1 .hich are called in pop0lar
parlance1 nat0ral la.s# :e have seen that the energy'conscio0sness side is the side o/ the
principles; and that the -atter'pra2riti side1 or the ele-ent'side1 is the side o/ the talas1 as the
/or-er ? the principles ? are o/ the lo2as# ,nd yet these are inseparable1 these lo2as and
talas1 each involved .ith each1 the t.o highest together and the t.o lo.est together1 and
those bet.een in si-ilar -anner1 t.o by t.o1 as inseparable as the t.o poles o/ a -agnet
!yo0 cannot have a -agnet .ith only one pole"; as inseparable also as good and evil1 as are
light and dar2ness# $n /act1 these lo2as and talas are an e3pression 2os-ically o/ .hat .e call
the syste- o/ opposites1 o/ contraries1 .hich is another .ay o/ e3pressing d0ality in nat0re#
They are interlin2ed /ro- the 0pper-ost or highest do.n to the lo.est; and it is by passing
thro0gh these principles and ele-ents1 thro0gh these lo2as and talas1 that the li/e'.aves1 the
strea-s o/ beings1 0ndergo their evol0tion1 acI0ire their e3perience# There are no
separations or voids bet.een the hosts o/ the vario0s hierarchies in the 2os-os1 .hich is
another .ay o/ e3pressing the sa-e thing# They blend into each other1 let 0s say1 i/ yo0 li2e;
at least as a /irst s0ggestion /or 0nderstanding# They blend together by and thro0gh their
at-ospheres1 the o0ter-ost at-osphere o/ one interpenetrating and interblending -ore
partic0larly .ith the o0ter-ost at-osphere o/ its s0perior or o/ its in/erior lo2a or tala1 as the
case -ay be; and the tho0ght here is o/ @at-ospheres@ or a0ras within each other/in.ardly1
not -ere -echanical >0nctions o/ at-ospheres on any one plane#
These inn0-erable hosts1 these s.ar-ing -0ltit0des o/ beings1 .hich in/ill space and are
!%ace it!el"/ .or2 do.n.ards along the arc o/ the shado.s in their so'called descent into
-atter; and then1 .hen they have reached the botto- o/ the grand cycle in any -anvantara1
they t0rn beca0se1 having reached the lo.est point possible as regards that hierarchy1 they
cannot go /arther do.n in it# This is a I0estion .hich .e -0st go into -ore /0lly in the /0t0re#
lease accept it /or the -o-ent as a proposition# Th0s1 having reached that botto- point1
that 0t-ost point o/ -ateriality1 /or that partic0lar cycle o/ evol0tion o/ -atter and invol0tion o/
spirit1 they t0rn and begin the ho-e.ard co0rse1 @ascending@ thro0gh the lo2as and talas as
they @ca-e do.n@ thro0gh the-1 and this ascent is the invol0tion o/ -atter and the evol0tion
o/ spirit or1 to p0t it in other .ords1 -atter resolves itsel/ again into the spirit .hich it
/0nda-entally is#
There is no di//erence in occ0ltis- bet.een /orce and -atter1 e3cept in degree o/ -ateriality
or grossness; there is no di//erence o/ 2ind at all# There is no di//erence bet.een spirit and
s0bstance1 e3cept in degree1 no di//erence in 2ind at all# %oth are /0nda-entally one; and
both1 .hen the long ages o/ the -anvantaric cycle shall have ended1 shall sin2 bac2 again
into the in/inite .o-b o/ the great Foid1 the -aha's0nyata1 that is to say1 bac2 into the
illi-itable 2os-os o/ the spirit0al real-s1 .hich is @void@ to o0r lo.er nat0res1 b0t act0ally an
ine//able plero-a or F0llness to the divine eye .ithin 0s#
$t is thro0gh the .or2ing and interaction respectively o/ the gods and the -onads and the
so0ls and the ato-s that the vario0s globes o/ o0r planetary chain1 and o/ any other
planetary chain1 and the vario0s lo2as and talas pertaining thereto1 co-e into being# These
latter are the vehicles o/ the /or-er5 their gar-ents o/ light1 i/ yo0 li2e1 on the higher planes1
and their bodies so called on the lo.er planes# They are pro>ected1 o0t'thro.n1 cast /orth1
e-anated1 /ro- these gods1 -onads1 so0ls1 and ato-s# lease re-e-ber that .hen .e say
ato- .e do not -ean the che-ical ato- o/ -odern scienti/ic tho0ght# That ato- is1 as said
be/ore1 rather an aggregate o/ ato-ic ele-ents# :e -ean by the ter- a vital'astral entity# ,t
the heart o/ it is its -onad# ,t the heart o/ that -onad is its god1 and that god is b0t a ray o/
the s0pre-e s0--it o/ the hierarchy to .hich it belongs#
&o.1 any s0ch hierarchy is b0t one o/ an endless -0ltit0de o/ others si-ilar to it; yea1 there
are others so -0ch greater than it1 be it as great as yo0r i-agination can -a2e it1 that it itsel/
see-s by co-parison b0t as a grain o/ sand on the shores o/ an in/inite sea# $t is so1 even in
the o0ter spaces o/ astrono-y .hich the instr0-ents o/ the astrono-ers can1 or at least
atte-pt to1 penetrate# There are 2os-oi1 2os-oses1 so -0ch greater than o0r o.n 0niversal
2os-os !.hich co-prises everything .ithin the Done o/ the 7il2y :ay" beyond o0r 0niverse1
that o0r entire 0niversal 2os-os co0ld be placed in one o/ the- and lost; and1 on the other
hand1 there is an act0al 0niverse at the core o/ every one o/ the tiniest ato-s o/ o0r physical
-a2e0p1 an act0al 0niverse in/illed .ith its o.n hierarchies1 in/illed .ith its o.n endless hosts
o/ beings#
Re-e-ber1 please1 that b0l21 vol0-e1 siDe1 have nothing .hatsoever to do .ith
conscio0sness1 or .ith /orce# ,nd greater than that tho0ght is this5 that the .orlds .e see1
the 0niverse .e see1 are b0t the rind1 the shell1 the h0s2 o/ the greater part .hich lies .ithin#
:e see these things aro0nd 0s; they are repeated by re/lection /ro- .hat is .ithin5 @,s
above1 so belo.; as belo.1 so above#@
:e .ere spea2ing o/ initiations and 7ysteries a /e. -o-ents agone1 and perhaps so-e
-ay have .ondered5 ,re there no records le/t o/ these; There are -any; b0t1 alas1 people do
not 2no. ho. to /ind the-# The ordinary scholar ta2es s0ch state-ents as he /inds the- in
his boo2s as si-ply e3a-ples1 sa-ples1 rather1 o/ .hat he calls the @0ne3a-pled s0perstition
o/ past ages#@ Ae 2no.s everythingK 40r little -ental .orld o/ 1)) or 1() or 2)) years is
the !uu 6onu/ the ne %lu! ultra/ to s0ch -inds; everything that preceded that short
period .as ignorance and s0perstition; b0t there are so-e -en and .o-en .ho have
intellects greater than those1 int0itions livelier than those1 and they have /elt and seen at least
so-e.hat o/ the tr0th in reading these records o/ bygone ti-es#
$ have personally seen state-ents in s0ch old records .hich are a-aDingly bold and open#
For instance1 $ -a2e -ention o/ things /o0nd in articles or poe-s .ritten by ro/essor
<enneth 7orris1 in these cases ta2en /ro- so-e o/ the old :elsh .ritings1 and $ have
-arveled that s0ch things .ere le/t open1 si-ply -arveled at it; b0t .hen yo0 read a little
-ore yo0 /ind that the all0sion is so -asterly inter.oven .ith cognate s0b>ects1 tr0e b0t
having no direct bearing 0pon that blaDing star o/ light that springs /orth to the eye here and
there1 that these other cognate s0b>ects act0ally hide the esoteric star o/ light1 and o0r
-odern reader si-ply reads in s0ch case as he .o0ld a /ine -odern poe-1 and he sees
nothing -ore#
$ .ill ta2e another instance# ro/essor 4svald Siren1 in a very interesting lect0re he gave on
6hinese %0ddhist art a /e. days ago1 t.ice or thrice1 perhaps1 -entioned t.o things .hich
are e3tre-ely interesting1 and they .ere placed in direct con>0nction# No0 re-e-ber he told
0s in his description o/ the vario0s post0res o/ these stat0es o/ the b0ddhas and
bodhisattvas1 that the bodhisattvas .ore .hat he called @cro.ns@; and he called attention to
the headgear1 as represented in these stat0es o/ the b0ddhas1 and he called it the u!hni!ha#
This is a Sans2rit .ord1 and it co-es /ro- the Sans2rit root u!h1 .hich -eans @to be .ar-1@
@to be hot1@ @to be /la-ing1@ or @/iery#@ Ushnisha is also 0sed in the sense o/ @t0rban1@ beca0se
this partic0lar headgear so-e.hat rese-bles a t0rban# $t is o/ spiral conical /or-1 so-e.hat
li2e the spiral shell o/ so-e snails#
4ne o/ the -ost interesting and instr0ctive aspects o/ ancient tho0ght ? and it sho0ld be o/
o0r st0dies li2e.ise ? is that o/ sy-bology# $t has been very tr0ly said that once an esoteric
tho0ght has been vocally e3pressed or printed1 it is e3oteric# 4/ co0rse that is tr0e# That is a
/act# %0t let 0s not lose sight o/ another /act1 that .hile a thing1 an esoteric tr0th1 -ay be
proclai-ed /ro- the ho0setops1 unle!! it i! under!tood it still re-ains esoteric1 altho0gh in
/or-1 /or-ally1 it is e3oteric#
$ thin2 it .as ,ristotle .ho /irst 0sed these .ords @esoteric@ and @e3oteric1@ -eaning that
.hich is in.ard1 and that .hich is o0t.ard and /or-al# 4/ co0rse1 that distinction is a tr0e
one; yet i/ yo0 e3a-ine the literat0res1 the sy-bology o/ the ancient literat0res1 philosophies1
and sciences1 .ith the 0nderstanding given to 0s by the esoteric teachings1 yo0 .ill /ind that
.hile the sy-bolis- is e3oteric beca0se it has been p0blished1 it still re-ains esoteric
beca0se it is 0ne3plained1 its -eaning is still hid#
&o. .ill yo0 please recall to yo0r -inds that t.o years ago1 $ thin2 it .as1 .e spo2e o/ the
/act that practically the entire li/e o/ the ancient .orld in all its branches1 religio0s1 scienti/ic1
philosophic1 social1 political1 .hatnot1 .as 0lti-ately based on 2no.ledge derived /ro- the
7ysteries# This /act is so tr0e and goes so /ar in reach that1 /or an e3a-ple1 even the dread
cr0ci/i3ion'p0nish-ent o/ the ersians1 6arthaginians1 and Ro-ans1 a p0nish-ent to .hich
only cri-inals or /oreigners .ere ever s0b>ected1 in early ti-es1 as a /or-1 arose in the
initiatory cere-onies#
To ret0rn -ore directly to the s0b>ect o/ the @cro.n@ and the 0shnisha on the b0ddhas8 heads5
the cro.n1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber1 .as the sy-bolic sign o/ one .ho had passed a certain
degree in initiation# Ae .ho .as @cro.ned@ .as an initiate o/ a certain grade; and this .as
e3pressed by saying that he .ore a cro.n# This .earing o/ cro.ns has passed into o0r o.n
E0ropean li/e# The -onarchs are cro.ned1 and at their coronations they ignorantly repeat a
very1 very ancient cere-ony1 -eaning then a great deal1 -eaning no. nothing# ,nd the
.earing or 0se o/ cro.ns1 at least as a decoration on rings or letter paper1 is still retained by
E0ropean nobility in the /or- o/ coronets# 4riginally it -eant that the one so entitled to 0se
the one or the other o/ these vario0s cro.ns had passed a certain grade o/ initiation1 and in
so-e cases a high initiation too1 i/ yo0 please# The bodhisattvas .ere those .ho
.ere crowned with the 6uddhic "ire/.hich .as sy-boliDed by the .earing o/ a diade- or a
cro.n1 or so-ething si-ilar# The cro.n1 act0ally1 i/ yo0 e3a-ine its earliest /or-s in
iconography1 yo0 .ill see evidently originated in t.o ideas1 one o/ .hich .as the s0n1 0sed
as a sy-bol1 .ith its spreading rays ? so -0ch so that so-e o/ the late st0dies or art.or2s o/
the very last age o/ the ancient ti-es1 that o/ the Ro-ans1 sho. one or -ore o/ the
e-perors1 /or instance1 .ith a halo or a ni-b0s at the bac2 o/ his head /ro- .hich spi2es
spread o0t1 -a2ing a cro.n or representing the solar rays# The solar rite1 i/ yo0 li2e to call it
that1 .as th0s sy-boliDed; and the halo or ni-b0s bac2 o/ the heads o/ the b0ddha stat0es1
a /act'sy-bol copied by the 6hristians li2e.ise1 originated /ro- a /act .ell 2no.n to the
ancients1 and even spo2en o/ in the e3oteric literat0re as it has co-e do.n to 0s# This /act ?
and this is the second idea or tr0th -entioned ? is that a saint1 as the 6hristians .o0ld say1 a
holy -an1 as .e -ay say1 i#e#1 one .ho is in the state o/ deep sa-adhi1 has his head
s0rro0nded .ith these a0ric strea-s1 these rays /ro- the vital inner /ire1 .hich /or- a glory
aro0nd his head1 and so-eti-es even aro0nd the entire body# They strea- 0p.ards /ro-
the bac2 o/ the head1 o/ten sy-bolically represented in the b0ddha'iconography as one
single1 la-bent /la-e soaring 0p.ards /ro- and over the top o/ the s20ll# $n this case yo0
-ay perhaps /ind that the 0shnisha is -issing1 its place being ta2en by this /la-e iss0ing
/ro- the top o/ the head1 a sy-bolic representation o/ the /ire o/ the spirit and o/ the aro0sed
and active b0ddhic /ac0lty in .hich the -an is at the ti-e#
No0 see ho. bea0ti/0l these tho0ghts are1 ho. -0ch there is -erely in st0dying the o0t.ard
sy-bology o/ these old belie/s# Ao. o/ten have $ heard this very 0shnisha -oc2ed at by
4ccidentals1 derided .ith -ore or less gentle sarcas-# S0ch -oc2ery co-es /ro- a lac2 o/
0nderstanding# $t pays ? even to p0t it on the personal1 sel/ish plane ? it pays to 0nderstand
and st0dy sy-bologyK There is one -ore e3planation o/ the 0shnisha1 the -ost secret o/ all1
.hich .e -ention b0t pass over at present# $t re/ers to the pop0lar belie/ that the 0shnisha is
an e3crescence or prot0berance o/ the s20ll itsel/#
&o.1 there are a /e. -ore things .hich .e o0ght to ina0g0rate tonight as a prel0de and
introd0ction to the beginning o/ o0r st0dy .hen .e ne3t -eet# 9et -e /irst read /ro- The
Secret Doctrine1 vol0-e $1 page (C91 the /ollo.ing e3tract5
# # # the ancient $nitiates1 .ho .ere /ollo.ed -ore or less closely by all pro/ane antiI0ity1
-eant by the ter- @ato-1@ a So0l1 a Beni0s or ,ngel1 the /irst'born o/ the ever'concealed
6,USE o/ all ca0ses; and in this sense their teachings beco-e co-prehensible# They
clai-ed1 as do their s0ccessors1 the e3istence o/ Bods and Benii1 angels or @de-ons1@
not o0tside1 or independent o/1 the Universal$lenu/ b0t .ithin it# 4nly this $lenu1
d0ring the li/e'cycles1 is in/inite#
:e have soon to close o0r st0dy this evening1 b0t let 0s again point o0t that in o0r 0se o/ the
ter- ato1 as A# # %lavats2y al.ays 0sed it1 .e e-ploy it as1 and give it the sa-e general
-eaning that1 the ancient Bree2 philosophers did /ro- .ho- .e derive the .ord# $/ yo0
re-e-ber1 it -eans @that .hich cannot be divided@; so1 then1 it .as the 0lti-ate particle o/
s0bstance; and this indivisible ato- did not at all -ean the ato- in o0r -odern1 scienti/ic1
che-ical sense# $t -eant rather .hat .e called the -onad1 .hich .as the na-e given to the
spirit0al 4ne by ythagoras1 and -eant e3actly the sa-e thing that ato- originally did1 the
.ord 0sed by the old Bree2 ,to-ists1 s0ch as =e-ocrit0s1 9e0cipp0s1 Epic0r0s1 and
90creti0s o/ $taly1 and by s0ch as they1 albeit the ,to-istic sense .as -ore -aterialistic than
o0rs# F0rther-ore1 this .ord ato- is 0sed by 0s in a general sense1 /reI0ently# :e have
spo2en o/ the s0n as an ato-1 and .e have spo2en o/ the earth as an ato-1 and .e have
called attention to the /act that the ancient Aind0s in their .ritings called %rah-a !the third
hypostasis1 so to say1 o/ the divine %rah-an" the 2os-ic ato-# The idea is that this 2os-ic
ato- is @%rah-a8s Egg1@ /ro- .hich the 0niverse shall spring into -ani/ested being1 as /ro-
the egg the chic2 co-es /orth1 in its t0rn to lay another egg# Each o/ these 2os-ic eggs or
0niverses gives birth1 a/ter its rest period has ended1 to its o.n o//spring1 each o/ the /or-er
derived in si-ilar -anner /ro- its o.n /or-er -anvantaric egg#
,nd a co--on doctrine a-ong the ancients all over the .orld1 in Aind0stan or in Breece or
Ro-e1 .herever it -ay have been1 .as1 as so bea0ti/0lly e3pressed in a poe- by 6leanthes1
the Stoic5 @He0s is all that is# :hate8er yo0 see or 2no. or sense or /eel is He0s# He0s is all
.ithin and all .itho0t#@ There/ore not an ato- b0t is He0s1 as also every potentiality o/ the
in/inite 2os-os1 as o/ all 2os-oi; /or every 0niverse or 2os-os is b0t one o/ the vast and
inco-p0table s.ar-s o/ living entities .hich /ill the spaces o/ endless and beginningless
S,6E#
hapter Thirty-Nine
Theosophy and 4cc0ltis-# 4cc0ltis-5 the G0intessence o/ Tr0th1 Reality; a
6o-plete :hole# 4cc0ltis- and 7oral Responsibility# 40r Solar Syste-5
a <os-ic ,to-1 Egg o/ %rah-a#
$t is easy to beco-e a Theosophist# ,ny person o/ average intellect0al capacities1 and a
leaning to.ard the -eta'physical; o/ p0re1 0nsel/ish li/e1 .ho /inds -ore >oy in helping his
neighbo0r than in receiving help hi-sel/; one .ho is ever ready to sacri/ice his o.n
pleas0res /or the sa2e o/ other people; and .ho loves Tr0th1 Boodness and :isdo- /or
their o.n sa2e1 not /or the bene/it they -ay con/er ? is a Theosophist#
%0t it is I0ite another -atter to p0t onesel/ 0pon the path .hich leads to the 2no.ledge o/
.hat is good to do1 as to the right discri-ination o/ good /ro- evil; a path .hich also leads
a -an to that po.er thro0gh .hich he can do the good he desires1 o/ten .itho0t even
apparently li/ting a /inger# ? A# # %lavats2y1 @ractical 4cc0ltis-1@ <uci"er/ $$1 1()
4cc0ltis- is not the acI0ire-ent o/ po.ers1 .hether psychic or intellect0al1 tho0gh both
are its servants# &either is 4cc0ltis- the p0rs0it o/ happiness1 as -en 0nderstand the
.ord; /or the /irst step is sacri/ice1 the second1 ren0nciation# ? <uci"er/ $1 7
40r philosophy o/ li/e is one grand .hole1 every part necessary and /itting into every other
part# Every one o/ its doctrines can and -0st be carried to its 0lti-ate concl0sion# $ts
ethical application -0st proceed si-ilarly# $/ it con/lict .ith old opinions those -0st be cast
o//# $t can never con/lict .ith tr0e -orality# # # # The spirit o/ Theosophy -0st be so0ght /or;
a sincere application o/ its principles to li/e and act sho0ld be -ade# Th0s -echanical
Theosophy1 .hich inevitably leads ? as in -any cases it already has ? to a negation o/
brotherhood1 .ill be i-possible1 and instead there .ill be a living1 act0al Theosophy# ?
:illia- G# E0dge1 The $ath/ P1 23(
# # # Tchara2a1 a Aind0 physician1 .ho is said to have lived (1))) years %#6#1 in his
treatise on the origin o/ things1 # # # th0s bea0ti/0lly e3presses hi-sel/5 @40r Earth is1 li2e
all the l0-ino0s bodies that s0rro0nd 0s1 one o/ the ato-s o/ the i--ense :hole o/
.hich .e sho. a slight conception by ter-ing it ? the $n/inite#@ ? 0!i! 3n4eiled/ $1 (C)
466U9T$S71 as the 7asters and A# # %lavats2y have told 0s1 is that s0bli-e .isdo-
delivered to the early races o/ -an2ind by e3alted beings /ro- other lo2as; and .hile in o0r
-odern ti-es to this .isdo- has been given the na-e o/ occ0ltis-1 that is the !cience o"
thing! which are !ecret or hid/ and .hile that na-e has its correspondence in other
lang0ages1 as in the Sans2rit gu%ta14id&a1 in the /or- in .hich it has been presented to the
p0blic in o0r age1 it is called theosophy# 4ne -ay as2 onesel/5 $s there any intrinsic di//erence
bet.een occ0ltis- and theosophy; $ thin2 .e -ay say very /airly and >0stly that there is not1
that /0nda-entally the t.o are one1 t.o na-es /or one thing# %0t A# # %lavats2y very .isely
-ade a distinction1 s0per/icial i/ yo0 li2e1 b0t convenient1 bet.een occ0ltis- and theosophy1
and this distinction .as tho0ght o/ in connection .ith the three 2inds o/ -e-bers o/ the
Theosophical 7ove-ent5 /irst1 the -e-bers o/ the Theosophical Society .ho are neither
theosophists nor occ0ltists necessarily1 b0t .ho are those .ho so greatly ad-ire o0r broad
and 0niversal plat/or-1 .ho are so -0ch in sy-pathy .ith the ideals .hich theosophy sets
/orth1 that they have thro.n in their lot .ith 0s1 and .or2 .ith 0s# The second class co-prises
those .ho are -ore than -ere -e-bers o/ the Theosophical Society; they are those .ho
st0dy the partic0lar and certain doctrines .hich in o0r ti-e have been called theosophical1
and .hich represent the eye doctrine1 as Ba0ta-a the %0ddha called it; in other .ords1 the
p0blication /or the p0blic .eal o/ certain chosen and speci/ied doctrines o/ occ0ltis-1 /it /or
p0blic disse-ination in o0r age# 9astly1 those .ho have given the-selves in a larger1 in a
deeper1 and in a -ore heart/0l degree than the other t.o classes have done1 to that s0bli-e
.isdo- .hich has co-e do.n to 0s /ro- i--e-orial ti-e as the revelation1 i/ .e -ay 0se
that .ord1 o/ the tr0ths o/ the 2os-os1 and o/ co0rse o/ -an as a part thereo/#
This1 then1 is the distinction1 s0ch as it is1 bet.een theosophy and occ0ltis-# The
theosophical doctrines are -ore generally /or the p0blic1 yet they are chosen /ro- the
doctrines o/ occ0ltis-; they are the doctrines .hich are -ost /it /or p0blic disse-ination in
o0r age1 as already said#
&o. the 0n/ort0nate part o/ this -atter is the /ollo.ing5 everything that is o/ h0-an nat0re1 or
.hich springs /ro- the heart or brain o/ -an2ind1 is de /acto s0b>ect to i-itation or even to
degeneration; and conseI0ently this na-e occ0ltis-1 a tr0ly noble na-e in its real -eaning1
is o/ten greatly1 even vilely1 -is0sed and -is0nderstood; it is bandied abo0t in the
ne.spapers1 and passes /ro- -o0th to -o0th as signi/ying little -ore than the so'called
psychistic or .onder-ent'doctrines on .hich the p0blic /eeds so avidly# That 0se is a
degradation o/ the original sense# ,ll things .hich really satis/y the heart and -ind o/ -an
-0st be o/ necessity tr0e in degree1 other.ise they co0ld not so satis/y; b0t1 as .e all 2no.1
-en8s -inds and hearts so-eti-es /eed on -ere h0s2s1 as it is e3pressed in the 6hristian
&e. Testa-ent ? /eed on h0s2s .hich the s.ine eat# No0 2no. .hat the sy-bolic
e3pression s.ine -eans# :e have spo2en o/ it be/ore1 so .e need not no. all0de to it again#
%0t the point .hich $ .ish to i-press 0pon o0r -inds in this connection is1 that occ0ltis- is
the e3position o/ the very essence1 the I0intessence1 o/ tr0th1 o/ reality# $t cannot be st0died
by the higher -ind alone1 nor can it be st0died alone by those other /ac0lties in -an .hich he
classes 0nder the generic heading o/ @/eelings#@ %0t it -0st be st0died as a co-plete .hole1
and it ans.ers /0lly to all de-ands o/ -an8s entire spirit0al and psychological co-position1
and is there/ore entirely and 0tterly satis/actory# $t provides -an not -erely .ith a basis /or
the noblest syste- o/ ethics the .orld 2no.s1 b0t describes to hi- .hat those ethics are1 and
on .hat they are /o0nded1 and .hat the d0e and per/ect practice o/ the- .ill lead to# ,nd
that leading1 .e are told1 is along that old1 s-all path1 o/ .hich the Upanishads spea2 ? /or
those .ho /ollo. it /inally co-e into direct connection and into con/ab0lation .ith the all'.ise
and cal-'eyed gods1 /or that path leads 0s directly to the heart o/ the 0niverse ? the @heart@
in the -ystical and esoteric sense5 into those places1 into those spirit0al1 s0perspirit0al1 and
divine1 regions .here is the core o/ the being o/ each one o/ 0s#
The vario0s great religions o/ the present and o/ the past ti-es have spr0ng /orth /ro- the
doctrines o/ occ0ltis-; each one o/ s0ch religions in its ger-inal stage1 in its beginning1 .as
the spirit0al o//spring o/ so-e great and noble -an1 one o/ the 7asters1 indeed1 .ho ta0ght
p0blicly d0ring the partic0lar period .hen he appeared a-ong -en openly /or the salvation o/
his /ello.s1 giving /orth ane.1 once again1 the age'old tr0ths or1 perchance1 b0t a ne.er
version o/ the ancient light to the-1 el0cidating the great proble-s concerning the 2os-os
and -an1 .hich to those .ho have not received s0ch light1 so harass the h0-an heart and1 it
-ay be1 the h0-an intellect1 .ith an 0rgency de-anding sol0tion# S0ch a -ove-ent .as
started in o0r ti-e by o0r great'so0led %rother1 A# # %lavats2y# $t depends 0pon 0s al-ost
.holly at the present ti-e1 and .ill in the /0t0re so depend very largely1 .hether that e//ort is
to /ail as all religions in the past1 save one1 have /ailed1 -ore or less; or .hether it is to go
/or.ard s0ccess/0lly1 doing the .or2 it .as intended to do1 planting the seeds o/ right thin2ing
and right action1 o/ h0-an brotherhood1 and o/ 0niversal 2indliness1 in the hearts o/ all .ho
/ollo. it; or .hether1 /ollo.ing the le/t'hand path1 the path o/ -atter1 it is to go do.n and
possibly beco-e even an instr0-ent o/ the %rothers o/ the Shado.s#
40r Teachers have told 0s plainly that the st0dy o/ occ0ltis- involves a great -oral
responsibility5 that it places s0ch a responsibility 0pon the sho0lders o/ hi- or o/ her .ho
st0dies it1 beca0se it awa2en! the inner an; it a.a2ens his hid po.ers# ,nd1 /0rther-ore1
precisely proportionate to a -an8s earnestness is its st0dy prod0ctive o/ good or1 it -ay be1 o/
the reverse# 466U9T$S7 6,&&4T %E TR$F9E= :$TA# $t deals .ith direct and original
things1 i/ yo0 0nderstand these ter-s1 not .ith re/lected tr0ths# Aence1 0nless a -an8s heart
be absol0tely p0re ? $ -ean by that1 clean o/ all personal sel/ishness ? he never is sa/e#
There can be no tri/ling .ith it# $t calls o0t o/ a -an all he is in.ardly1 and broo2s no hal/.ay
loyalty#
The t.o paths lie al.ays at o0r /eet; at every step they diverge1 one to the right and one to
the le/t; and one single act -ay ind0ce a habit1 .hich .ill -a2e a character1 in ti-e1 by
repetition; and that character is yo0 or $1 /or it is the e3ercise o/ 2no.ledge !or hal/'
2no.ledge" and .ill#
$t is /or these reasons that ti-e and again .e re/er to the necessity o/ 0nderstanding clearly
.hat .e -ean by -orals1 and that there is the 0t-ost need /or their practice by each one o/
0s1 by yo0 and by -e1 every -o-ent o/ o0r lives# S0ch practice does not -ean -erely the
hypocritical assent o/ the -entality1 .ith a -ental reservation that @/inally $ shall do as $
please#@ That /ield o/ -ental reservations is precisely .here the %rothers o/ the Shado.s
-a2e their conI0ests o/ the hearts o/ -en1 on >0st s0ch lines as those# $ tell yo01 .ith all
sole-nity1 that the .arning sho0ld be1 -0st be1 heeded#
&o.1 let 0s open o0r st0dy tonight by re-inding o0rselves o/ the /act that the lo2as and the
talas o/ .hich .e have spo2en at o0r several last -eetings1 as concerns the earth1 are its
seven principles and its seven ele-ents respectively ? and as concerns the 2os-os precisely
the sa-e -ay be said; /0rther-ore1 that the seven 2os-ical lo2as and seven 2os-ical talas
co-prise the entirety1 the totality1 o/ all that is in o0r solar syste-1 .hich is the 2os-ic ato-#
$n other .ords1 they co-prise the totality o/ the Egg o/ %rah-a# No0 2no. the -eaning o/
that /ine old %rah-anical sy-bol1 the egg1 a sy-bol .hich is /o0nd li2e.ise in other religions1
s0ch as the 4rphic syste- in Breece1 and the Egyptian syste-; and .e 2no. /ro- the
representations .e have o/ the earth'-o0nds1 that anciently it .as eI0ally .ell recogniDed in
&orth ,-erica#
:hen .e spea2 o/ the 2os-ic ato- ? .hen .e spea2 o/ the Egg o/ %rah-a1 .hich is another
.ay o/ saying the sa-e thing ? .hen .e spea2 o/ it as being the solar syste-1 please 2no.
that .e do not -ean the planets together1 or the s0n alone1 or the s0n and planets together1
.hich last /or- -erely the o0t.ard rind or shell1 as it .ere !or1 i/ .e -ay 0se a physiological
ter-1 the nerve centers1 the ganglia1 o/ the physiological operations"1 o/ this Egg o/ %rah-a#
:hen .e spea2 o/ the 2os-ic ato-1 and in/erentially o/ the ato- o/ -atter as .e 2no. it on
this earth1 .e -ean the vital'astral entity behind it1 that partic0lar entity considered as a 0nity1
.hich gives it its li/e1 its s.abhava1 that is1 its partic0lar or individ0al characteristic1 that .hich
di//erentiates it /ro- other si-ilar 2os-ic eggs or 2os-ic ato-s# :e -ay also spea2 o/ o0r
earth as %rah-a8s Egg1 b0t this is by analogy; the real Egg o/ %rah-a is the solar syste-#
:e have said be/ore that the lo2as and talas are the seven principles and the seven
ele-ents o/ o0r globe1 o0r globe Terra; b0t there are other seven lo2as and other seven talas
.hich are respectively the seven principles and the seven ele-ents o/ each one o/ the other
si3 globes o/ o0r planetary chain1 !e4en o" each/ to each+ 4ne -ay as2 onesel/1 i/ one has
not st0died occ0ltis-1 .hy there sho0ld be so -0ch o/ the sevening process in o0r st0dies;
.hy o0r doctrines sho0ld contin0ally r0n in seven/old aggregates# The ans.er o/ occ0ltis- is1
beca0se nat0re has so b0ilded her str0ct0res# 40tside o/ s0ch obvio0s things as the seven
principal colors o/ the light spectr0- and the seven rays o/ the s0n !.hich is al-ost the sa-e
thing"1 and the seven notes o/ the diatonic scale in -0sic1 and the /act 2no.n to st0dents o/
physiology that -any diseases r0n in cycles o/ seven days or -0ltiples thereo/ ? leaving
these things aside1 .e /ind in st0dying the ancient literat0res as sho.ing /orth the religions1
philosophies1 and sciences o/ the past ti-es1 that .hile they all state the /act 0nder di//erent
/or-s 0ndo0btedly1 they all agree -ore or less 0nani-o0sly in ascribing to the str0ct0ral
/ra-e.or2 o/ the 0niverse and o/ -an the sa-e syste- o/ seven co-ponent parts#
This I0estion o/ n0-eration is one .hich .e have laid no /o0ndation /or at present1 and
there/ore .e postpone it /or longer consideration to a /0t0re ti-e# S0//ice it then /or the
present to accept it as a proposition /or st0dy# No0 yo0rselves can prove .hat has been said#
The literat0res o/ the .orld lie open be/ore yo0# Read the- and st0dy the-1 and yo0 .ill be
convinced as all other sincere st0dents have been convinced .ho have done it# St0dy
there/ore the evidences and prove the /acts#
&o. the gods1 -onads1 and ato-s .or2 thro0gh the 2os-ic egg in.ards and o0t.ards1 that
is1 they .or2 thro0gh the lo2as and talas# ,s A# # %lavats2y says in the /irst vol0-e
o/ The Secret Doctrine/ on page C195
@Bod1 7onad1 and ,to- are the correspondences o/ Spirit1 7ind1 and %ody !)ta/
Mana!/ and Sthula Sarira" in -an#@ $n their septenary aggregation they are the @Aeavenly
7an@ !see Ka6ala/or the latter ter-"; th0s1 terrestrial -an is the provisional re/lection o/
the Aeavenly# # # # @The 7onads !Ci4a!" are the So0ls o/ the ,to-s1 both are the /abric in
.hich the 6hohans !=hyanis1 god!" clothe the-selves .hen a /or- is needed#@
They so clothe the-selves1 in order1 as pointed o0t in o0r /or-er st0dies o/ the gods1
-onads1 so0ls1 and ato-s1 to evolve /orth the 0niverse; as the Upanishad p0ts it1 as a spider
spins a .eb# That is a bea0ti/0l sy-bol# Fro- o0t o/ the-selves1 /ro- their o.n s0bstance1
they .eave the geo-etrical pattern o/ the 2os-os and therein .or2#
The st0dy o/ the str0ct0re or /ra-e.or2 o/ o0r 2os-ic ato- is a vast1 pro/o0nd1 and intricate
s0b>ect1 and be/ore .e can properly do it >0stice1 it .o0ld see- better /irst to 0nderta2e at
least a c0rsory e3a-ination ? /or at this point .e have no. arrived in o0r st0dies ? o/ the
b0ilding o/ o0r o.n globe1 as a part o/ the planetary chain in .hich it is one o/ the seven lin2s#
$ndeed1 let 0s go a little /arther than that1 and st0dy the .or2ing o/ the li/e'.aves o/ and in o0r
planetary chain# 40r planetary chain1 as said be/ore1 -ay itsel/ be considered the Egg o/
%rah-a1 the 2os-ic egg1 the /r0it o/ its parent1 i#e#1 the planetary chain o/ the preceding
-anvantara; and it itsel/ is to be the parent o/ its o.n /0t0re o//spring1 the planetary chain to
co-e .hen .e in o0r o.n chain shall have r0n o0r cyclical evol0tionary co0rse and s0n2 into
o0r long and .ell'earned pralaya1 or rest ? in other .ords1 a/ter .e have re>oined those
s0perspirit0al spheres /ro- .ithin .hich .e ca-e in the very beginning o/ things ? to re-ain
there in peace and in bliss ine//able1 0ntil the seeds latent in 0s1 the /r0itage o/ o0r present
and /0t0re acts and tho0ghts1 shall spring into activity in d0e ti-e# For all things -ove in
reg0lar co0rses and according to order1 .hich shall bring 0s do.n1 in /ar'distant aeons into
the /abrication o/ the planetary chain to be#
hapter Forty
"e#initions o# "eity* Atheis(: Pantheis(. 's There a $upre(e Personal
God; 5os(ic Architects and Builders. Really to 5now/ One .ust Beco(e.
>Thu! there i! 6ut one )6!olute 3%adhi !basis" in the !%iritual !en!e/ "ro/ on/ and in
which/ are 6uilt "or Man4antaric %ur%o!e! the countle!! 6a!ic centre! on which %roceed
the 3ni4er!al/ c&clic/ and indi4idual #4olution! during the acti4e %eriod+>
>The in"oring 0ntelligence!/ which aniate the!e 4ariou! centre! o" 9eing/ are re"erred
to indi!criinatel& 6& en 6e&ond the 'reat (ange a! the Manu!/ the (i!hi!/ the $itri!/
the $raAa%ati/ and !o on8 and a! Dh&ani 9uddha!/ the *hohan!/ Melha! !/ire'
gods"1 9odhi!att4a!/ and other!/ on thi! !ide+ The trul& ignorant call the god!8 the
learned %ro"ane/ the one 'od8 and the wi!e/ the 0nitiate!/ honour in the onl& the
Man4antaric ani"e!tation! o" TA,T which neither our *reator! !the =hyan 6hohans" nor
their creature! can e4er di!cu!! or 2now an&thing a6out+ The ,%S49UTE i! not to 6e
de"ined/ and no ortal or iortal ha! e4er !een or co%rehended it during the %eriod!
o" #@i!tence+ The uta6le cannot 2now the 0uta6le/ nor can that which li4e! %ercei4e
)6!olute <i"e+>
@There/ore1 -an cannot 2no. higher beings than his o.n @progenitors#@ >,or !hall he
wor!hi% the1@ b0t he o0ght to learnhow he ca-e into the .orld# # # #
There is /reI0ent con/0sion in the attrib0tes and genealogies o/ the gods in their
theogonies1 as given to the .orld by the hal/'initiated .riters1 %rah-anical and %iblical1
the ,lpha and the 4-ega o/ the records o/ that sy-bolical science# Net there co0ld be no
s0ch con/0sion -ade by the earliest nations1 the descendants and p0pils o/ the divine
instr0ctors5 /or both the attrib0tes and the genealogies .ere inseparably lin2ed .ith
cos-ogonical sy-bols1 the @gods@ being the li/e and ani-ating @so0l'principle@ o/ the
vario0s regions o/ the Universe# &o.here and by no people .as spec0lation allo.ed to
range 6e&ond those ani"e!ted gods# The bo0ndless and in/inite U&$TN re-ained .ith
every nation a virgin /orbidden soil1 0ntrodden by -an8s tho0ght1 0nto0ched by /r0itless
spec0lation# The only re/erence -ade to it .as the brie/ conception o/ its diastolic and
systolic property1 o/ its periodical e3pansion or dilatation1 and contraction# $n the Universe
.ith all its incalc0lable -yriads o/ syste-s and .orlds disappearing and reappearing in
eternity1 the anthropo-orphised po.ers1 or gods1 their So0ls1 had to disappear /ro- vie.
.ith their bodies5 ? @The breath ret0rning to the eternal boso- .hich e3hales and inhales
the-1@ says o0r 6atechis-# # # # $n every 6os-ogony1 behind and higher than
thecreati4e deity1 there is a s0perior deity1 a planner1 an ,rchitect1 o" who the 6reator is
b0t the e3ec0tive agent# ,nd still higher1 o4erand around/ within and without1 there is the
U&<&4:,%9E and the un2nown1 the So0rce and 6a0se o/ all these E-anations# # # #
? The Secret Doctrine/ $$1 3*1 *2'3
:E ,R4,6A this evening one aspect o/ occ0ltis- .hich has al.ays been held as very
sacred and very care/0lly g0arded1 and that is the st0dy o/ other .orlds than o0rs1 not as
those .orlds have been set /orth in the e3oteric religions1 b0t in accordance .ith the secret
.isdo- .hich has been handed do.n to 0s /ro- i--e-orial ti-e# :e -ean the teaching
concerning the s0perior globes o/ o0r o.n planetary chain; and on a -is0nderstanding o/ the
doctrines concerning the teaching regarding the planetary chain have been based the
e3oteric vie.s o/ the heavens and the hells o/ the vario0s e3oteric /aiths#
4ne -ight as2 onesel/ .hat the proper ans.er is to give to those .ho -ight as2 any one o/
0s5 @$s a theosophist an atheist; =oes he believe in Bod; $/ not1 .hy not;@ &o. these
I0estions are directly connected .ith the proper 0nderstanding o/ the doctrines abo0t the
planetary chain# 9et 0s then /irst devote a /e. -o-ents to ans.ering these I0estions /or
o0rselves# ,re .e atheists; Ao. can .e ans.er that I0estion be/ore .e 2no. .hat .e
-ean by the ter-; $/ .e ta2e a -odern dictionary1 /or instance the *entur& Dictionar&1 and
loo2 0p the de/inition o/ the ter- @atheis-1@ .e /ind three general ones# The /irst is5 @The
doctrine that there is no Bod#@ ,nd then /ollo.s a I0otation /ro- Sir E# R# Seeley1 /ro- his
boo21 ,atural (eligion/ page 2C5 @)thei! is a disbelie/ in the e3istence o/ Bod ? that is1
disbelie/ in any reg0larity in the 0niverse to .hich -an -0st con/or- hi-sel/ 0nder
penalties#@ &otice the pec0liar li-itation o/ tho0ght involved in this# $/ there is no reg0larity in
the 0niverse1 there/ore there is no personal s0pre-e Bod1 and there/ore i/ yo0 don8t believe
in s0ch a Bod1 the 0niverse is irreg0lar and anarchical1 and yo0 are an atheistK
The second de/inition is as /ollo.s5 @The denial o/ theis-1 that is1 o/ the doctrine that the
great /irst ca0se is a s0pre-e intelligent1 righteo0s person#@ The third de/inition is
@godlessness1@ .ith the i-plied -eaning that i/ yo0 don8t accept the Bod o/ the one .ho
gives the de/inition1 yo0 are an atheist1 and yo0 live a @godless1@ that is1 an evil li/e# S0ch1
then1 are the de/initions given in a standard .or2#
&o. any tyro'st0dent o/ history 2no.s that this I0estion or idea o/ belie/ in a god or in no god
has varied1 or rather has received di//erent treat-ent in di//erent ages# No0 .ill re-e-ber
do0btless that .hen the 6hristian religion /irst began to r0n a -ore or less s0ccess/0l co0rse
in Breece and in the Ro-an E-pire1 ed0cated Bree2s and Ro-ans called the ne. 6hristian
sect an atheistic sect# They .ere called @atheists1@ atheoi/ -erely -eaning one1 or rather
those1 .ho did not accept the established gods o/ the State1 that is1 the gods o/ the State
religion; and the ter- bore .ith it no partic0lar or necessary i-plication o/ evildoing
.hatsoever# $t .as very -0ch as i/ a E0ropean or ,-erican .ere to say today5 S0ch and
s0ch a -an is a /reethin2er1 or a 6on/0cianist1 or a %0ddhist1 or a scientist1 etc#
:hen the 6hristians gre. -ore po.er/0l and had in later ages the 0pper hand o/ the so'
called pagans1 they in their t0rn retaliated by calling the pagans atheists1 beca0se the latter
did not accept the Ee.ish'Bree21 ne./angled 6hristian Bod# $n other .ords1 the ter- act0ally
-eans5 @$/ yo0 accept & Bod yo0 are not an atheist; and i/ yo0 do not accept -y Bod yo0
are an atheist#@
That is >0st abo0t .hat atheis- has al.ays -eant1 i/ .e cons0lt the pages o/ history# %0t i/
.e thin2 o/ atheis- as containing in itsel/ a necessary i-plication o/ evildoing1 .e lo.er
o0rselves to the -ental vie.point o/ certain very narro.'-inded 6hristians to .ho- all .ho
do not accept their partic0lar variety o/ religion1 their partic0lar 0nderstanding or
-is0nderstanding o/ =eity1 are atheists# :e are re-inded o/ co0rse o/ that Scottish lady o/
the legend1 o/ .ho- .e have all heard1 .ho .ith her h0sband co-posed a 2ir2; she and her
Ea-ie alone co-posed the 2ir2# %0t she .as @nae sae certain aboot Ea-ie#@ There/ore she
alone co-posed the 2ir21 and her h0sband Ea-ie1 poor -an1 ca-e very near to being !in her
eyes" an atheist#
&o. that is the spirit that has governed 6hristian tho0ght practically ever since the death o/
its /o0nder# So1 there/ore1 .hen .e as2 i/ a -an is an atheist1 .e -0st be care/0l /irst to
ascertain .hat .e -ean by the ter-# $ have been called an atheist beca0se $ do not accept
the old orthodo3 de/inition o/ the personal 6hristian Bod# $ re>ect the ter-1 i/ it -ean living an
i--oral li/e# $ re>ect it .ith all the indignation o/ .hich $ a- sensible1 i/ the .ord be so 0sed1
/or it is an i-p0tation .hich is grossly 0n>0st# ,nd do0btless any one o/ yo0 /eels e3actly as $
do# :as it not the a0thor o/The $lough and the *ro!!/ a very clever $rish .riter1 .ho said
so-e.here that o0r @/ore/athers .ere a/raid o/ ghosts; b0t .e are a/raid o/ na-es1@ i#e#1 o/
labels and tic2ets;
&otice the second de/inition given above1 that a -an is an atheist i/ he does not believe in the
e3istence o/ a s0pre-e1 personal1 /irst ca0se1 .ho is an @intelligent1 righteo0s %er!on#@ $
re>ect s0ch a deity; there/ore1 according to the dictionary1 $ a- an atheist# %0t i/ anyone .ere
to as2 -e1 ,re yo0 an atheist; $ .o0ld say no# ,nd i/ he .ere to say1 :hy; $ .o0ld say1
beca0se to -e the bo0ndless ,ll is totally instinct .ith conscio0sness and li/e1 an in/initely
i--ense and s.ar-ing -0ltit0de1 endless and beginningless1 o/ beings .ho /or- not -erely
the heart o/ the p0lsating li/e o/ all that is1 b0t provide the very conscio0snesses .hich govern
and control the inn0-erable 0niverses o/ and in the bo0ndless ,ll#
$/ yo0 t0rn even to the canonical script0re o/ the 6hristian religion and as2 .hat a0l -eant
.hen he spo2e o/ =eity1 .e /ind there1 /ro- hi-1 t.o de/initions .orthy o/ the initiant that the
-an .as1 .hen he said1 /irst5 @$n $t .e live1 and -ove1 and have o0r being#@ This is p0re
pantheis- ? not as -is0nderstood in the grotesI0e sense .hich the 6hristians have
-isgiven to it1 i#e#1 that every stoc2 and every stone is Bod1 th0s sho.ing their pro/o0nd
ignorance o/ the high and noble philosophical -eaning behind the ter- pantheis-; b0t in the
sense that all is li/e1 and that it is i-possible to conceive o/1 nay1 even to to0ch the s-allest
point o/ space or being1 .hich lac2s that li-itless li/e# For bac2 o/ , lies %1 .hich is still
greater than ,; bac2 o/ % lies 61 still greater than %; bac2 o/ 6 lies =1 yet -ore grandiose;
and so on in/initely1 .ith never an end# :hat blasphe-o0s ideas have co-e do.n thro0gh
the ages regarding this I0estion o/ =eityK Aere in o0r 4ccidental 6hristianis- .e have a
Bod1 a b0ndle o/ contradictions1 a -is0nderstood rendering o/ &eopythagorean and
&eoplatonic1 and o/ so-e E0daic1 tho0ghts1 the c0rio0s and contradictory co-po0nd called
the 6hristian =eity ? $ -ean the theological de/inition thereo/#
Then another saying o/ a0l /ro- his Epistle to the Ro-ans1 in chapter 111 verse 3C5 @For o0t
o/ $t1 and thro0gh $t1 and bac2 to $t are all things#@ antheis- this1 p0re and si-ple1 even as
.e 0nderstand it#
4r1 i/ .e t0rn to the English rendering o/ Eohn8s Bospel1 chapter *1 verse 2*1 .e /ind an
a//ir-ation o/ the opposite tho0ght1 .hich partic0lar translation sprang /ro-
the orthodo@ rendering o/ the te3t by the later 6hristians1 .here this Bree2 verse is
-istranslated as saying @Bod is aSpirit#@ The Bree2 original co0ld eI0ally .ell and even
better be translated5 @Bod is Spirit#@ So be it# They -ay .orship @a spirit@ i/ they li2e1 a spirit
.ho is a @righteo0s %er!on@; b0t those .hose hearts have e3panded 0nder the bene/icent
in/l0ence o/ the .isdo-'religion1 and .hose -inds have opened to so-e.hat o/ the
0nderstanding .hich every /aith/0l st0dent o/ that .isdo- sho0ld possess1 can only re>ect
s0ch a de/inition o/ the =eity that he cannot accept1 .ith the indignation .hich the de/inition
deserves#
&o theosophist1 A# # %lavats2y has so-e.here said1 has ever denied =eity1 i#e#1 li-itless li/e
in the bo0ndless ,ll; b0t this =eity is nothing li2e1 nor in any sense can it be co-pared .ith1 a
/inite creator1 .hich s0ch a @person@ is s0pposed to be1 ho.ever @s0pre-e@ and ho.ever
@righteo0s@ and ho.ever great that s0pposed @person@ or that @spirit@ -ay be i-agined to be#
&o.1 i/ so-eone .ere to as2 yo01 $s there a s0pre-e personal Bod r0ling the planetary
chain and is it yo0r Bod; the ans.er is no# There is a host1 a -0ltit0de1 a hierarchy1 o/
intelligent and o/ thin2ing and o/ highly spirit0aliDed beings1 /ro- .hich the planetary chain
sprang /orth1 b0t it is not o0r god1 nor do .e .orship any s0ch# Those beings are o0r
progenitors1 o0r elder brothers in a very e3alted sense1 /or they .ere -en in /or-er
-anvantaras long since past; b0t o0r @god1@ never1 not even .hen considered as a 0nity and
called the 9ogos# 40r @deity1@ i/ it is anything1 is that indescribable1 bo0ndless li/e1 in its
highest aspects1 bac2 o/ everything1 /or-ing a bac2gro0nd o/ all -ani/ested being on
.hatever plane1 and in .hich all is1 and /ro- .hich all is1 and to .hich all is; indescribable1
0nthin2able1 and there/ore ine//able#
No0 re-e-ber that .hen Ba0ta-a the %0ddha .as as2ed1 :hat is Bod; and $s there Bod;
that greatest and noblest o/ 7asters .as silent# ,nd .hen as2ed a second and a third ti-e1
:hat is Bod; he again .as silent# Three ti-es .as he as2ed the I0estion1 and three ti-es
he preserved his silence#
$n o0r recent st0dies .e have atte-pted to sho. that the entire syste- o/ beings1 the
str0ct0re or /ra-e.or2 o/ the 0niverse on the bac2gro0nd o/ the %o0ndless1 sprang /orth /ro-
the action and the inter-ingling o/ the gods1 the -onads1 the so0ls1 and the ato-s; and that
these prod0ced the vario0s planetary chains o/ o0r solar syste-1 that is to say1 o/ the 2os-ic
ato- or1 as the %rah-anical thin2ers na-ed it1 the Egg o/ %rah-a# Fro- these gods1
-onads1 so0ls1 and ato-s1 the -ani/ested being o/ the solar syste- ca-e /orth#
9et 0s then t0rn ne3t to o0r o.n planetary chain# No0 .ill re-e-ber that it is stated to be
co-posed o/ seven globes1 o/ .hich o0r present earth is the /o0rth and on the lo.est plane
o/ the seven; and that this planetary chain is .or2ing in /o0r o/ the planes or .orlds o/ the
solar syste-1 in the /o0r lo.est .orlds thereo/1 as a -atter o/ /act1 o0r earth occ0pying the
lo.est ele-ent or .orld o/ the seven .hich co-pose the solar syste-# These seven
ele-ents are other.ise the 2os-ical lo2as and talas1 or 2os-ical .orlds1 principles1 and
ele-ents .or2ing together# They are the .orlds .ithin the o0ter see-ing1 -ore ethereal than
o0r .orld1 o/ .hich o0rs is a copy1 not necessarily a copy in every detail1 b0t a copy on
general lines1 even as the physical body o/ -an is a copy on general lines o/ the so0l o/ hi-;
and as his so0l is a copy on general lines o/ the spirit o/ hi-; and as the spirit o/ hi- is a copy
on general lines o/ his divine root1 a god'being or godhead /ro- .hich he sprang#
No0 .ill also re-e-ber that there are t.o general lines or hierarchies o/ spirit0al beings .ho
bro0ght /orth o0r 2os-os1 o/ .hich o0r planetary chain is one part; and these t.o are
respectively the architects and the b0ilders# The architects /or- the higher or -ore spirit0al
side1 and act0ally /or- the line o/ the l0-ino0s arc; and the b0ilders or constr0ctors /or-1 on
the other hand1 the shado.y arc#
$n the %0ddhist syste- o/ Tibet1 the general na-e o/ dhyani'chohans1 or lords o/ -editation1
is given to both these lines o/ beings; b0t -ore partic0larly the architects are called the
dhyani'b0ddhas1 the b0ddhas o/ conte-plation# The Bree2s called the .orld b0ilders1 the
-asons o/ the .orld1 by the general ter- o/ 2o!o2ratore!/ a co-po0nd Bree2 .ord
-eaning @.orld b0ilders#@ They are those .ho receive the creative or constr0ctive i-press
/ro- the beings o/ the l0-ino0s arc1 or the dhyani'b0ddhas1 and carry it o0t#
$n each o/ these t.o lines there are seven grades or rather classes5 there are seven classes
o/ the dhyani'b0ddhas1 and seven classes o/ the dhyani'chohans; and so /ar as o0r o.n
planetary chain is concerned1 these seven classes are re/lected1 repeated1 therein#
F0rther-ore1 each one o/ the seven globes co-posing o0r planetary chain is 0nder the
partic0lar oversight !$ thin2 it .o0ld be .rong to 0se the .ord direction or g0idance1 b0t rather
the o4er1!eeing"1 0nder the partic0lar over'seeing or care ? care is perhaps the best .ord to
describe this e3tre-ely -etaphysical concept ? 0nder the care o/ one class o/ these dhyani'
b0ddhas and one class o/ the b0ilders# That is to say1 globe ,1 /or instance1 the /irst1 on the
descending arc o/ o0r planetary chain1 is 0nder the care or .atch/0l inspiration or oversight1
o/ one class o/ these seven o/ both lines# Blobe % is 0nder the care o/ the second class o/
each line# Blobe 6 0nder the sa-e care or inspiration o/ the third class o/ each; and o0r o.n
globe = or /o0rth has li2e.ise its o.n dhyani'b0ddhas and b0ilders o/ the /o0rth class; and
the three globes o/ the ascending arc1 si-ilarly#
=o not con/0se these t.o lines1 beca0se the distinction is very i-portant i/ .e are to obtain
any adeI0ate 0nderstanding at all o/ this branch o/ the ancient .isdo-# The architect! then1
o/ the l0-ino0s arc1 provide the -odel1 lay do.n the plans# They are the architects1 the
overseers1 and their .or2 is carried o0t by these in/erior grades or classes o/ spirit0al beings
called the 6uilder!+
&o. .ith regard to this very I0estion o/ Bod1 considered brie/ly above1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber
that the Bnostics1 d0ring the ti-e o/ the beginning o/ the 6hristian era1 clai-ed1 and .e clai-
.ith the-1 that the 6hristian Bod1 Eehovah1 .ho- the 6hristians call the 6reator1 co0ld not
/or that very reason be a very high god# The very attrib0tes and /0nctions o/ creation or
/or-ation that .ere given to hi- sho.1 said these Bnostics1 that he .as b0t an in/erior deity1
a b0ilder1 receiving his @orders1@ so to say1 /ro- the divine architects and s0pernal planners
and thin2ers o/ the 2os-os1 he hi-sel/ th0s being b0t a b0ilder# ,s they so .ell p0t it1 the
-ani/old i-per/ections and inco-pletenesses so plainly apparent even to 0s h0-ans1 in the
2os-ical syste-1 proclai- that it co0ld not be the .or2 o/ an all'per/ect and 2os-ically
o-nipotent =eity; /ro- 0tter per/ection co0ld spring /orth only a per/ect and co-plete .or2#
The early 6hristians .ere 0nable to 0nderstand the deep philosophy behind this
0nans.erable a3io-1 and .a3ed very .roth and indignant indeed against .hat they called
the @blasphe-o0s opinions@ o/ those Bnostics# $n co--on .ith all tho0ght/0l -inds1 yo0 .ill
see the deep philosophical and religio0s i-plications that lie behind this arg0-ent or a3io-1
b0t 0pon the- .e cannot longer pa0se at this ti-e# Re-e-ber this1 tho0gh1 that in all the
ancient /aiths yo0 .ill /ind t.o general classes o/ spirit0al beings at .or2 in the 2os-os1 and
they are al.ays divided1 as .e have already said this evening1 into the thin2ers or planners
or architects1 the inspirers; and into the b0ilders# There is1 /inally1 vastly -ore in this tho0ght
than .e have ti-e to go into tonight#
&o. the Silent :atcher o/ .ho- .e have spo2en at other -eetings is the highest o/ the
dhyani'chohans o/ o0r globe; b0t there is li2e.ise a Silent :atcher /or each o/ the other si3
globes1 and /or the planetary chain as a .hole# There is li2e.ise a Silent :atcher /or the
entire 2os-ical ? /or the entire solar ? syste-# So .hen .e say Silent :atcher1 .itho0t
/0rther de/ining1 it is li2e saying spirit0al being or hierarchical head# $t is a generic ter-# ,s
re-ar2ed at those /or-er -eetings1 one s0ch Silent :atcher is on o0r earth today1 the
s0pre-e head o/ the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion1 the highest lin2 .ith the spirit0al beings o/
the hierarchy higher than o0rs 0p.ard along the l0-ino0s arc# Ae is1 so to say1 o0r s0pre-e
7aster1 o0r s0pre-e 6hie/#
No0 have all st0died1 o/ co0rse1 in the doctrine concerning o0r o.n planetary chain1 .hat are
co--only called the seven ro0nds1 -eaning that the li/e cycle or li/e'.ave begins its
evol0tionary co0rse on globe ,1 the /irst o/ the globes1 then1 co-pleting its cycles there1 r0ns
do.n to globe %1 and then to globe 61 and then to globe =1 o0r earth; and then to globe E1 on
the ascending arc1 then to globe F1 and then to globe B# This is one planetary ro0nd# Then
ens0es a planetary nirvana1 0ntil the second ro0nd begins in the sa-e .ay1 b0t in a -ore
@advanced@ degree o/ evol0tion than .as the /irst ro0nd# lease note that one s0ch ro0nd is
a %lanetar& ro0nd# , glo6e'ro0nd is one o/ the passages1 one o/ the seven passages1 o/ that
li/e'.ave d0ring its planetary ro0nd1 on any one and there/ore on and thro0gh each o/ the
globes5 .hen the li/e'.ave has passed thro0gh globe =1 /or instance1 and ends its cycles on
globe =1 that is the glo6e'ro0nd o/ globe = /or that partic0lar planetary ro0nd; and so .ith all
the globes respectively# There are seven glo6e'ro0nds there/ore !one globe'ro0nd /or each o/
the seven globes" in each %lanetar& ro0nd# F0rther-ore1 .hen seven %lanetar& ro0nds have
been acco-plished1 .hich is as -0ch as saying *9 glo6e'ro0nds !or globe'-anvantaras"1
then ens0es a still higher nirvana than that bet.een globes B and , a/ter each planetary
ro0nd1 .hich is called a pralaya o/ that planetary chain1 .hich pralaya lasts 0ntil the cycle
again ret0rns /or the ne. planetary chain to /or-1 containing the sa-e series o/ living beings
as on the preceding chain and .hich are no. destined to enter 0pon that ne. planetary
chain1 b0t on a higher series o/ planes than in the preceding one#
&e3t1 .hen seven s0ch planetary chains .ith their vario0s 2alpas or -anvantaras have
passed a.ay1 this seven/old grand cycle is one !olar-anvantara1 and then the entire solar
syste- sin2s into the solar or 2os-ic pralaya# 40r o.n s0n is then e3ting0ished1 s0ddenly1
li2e a /lash o/ light1 or li2e a shado. passing over a .all# ,/ter >0st a @/lic2ering1@ /inally the
light goes o0t1 and the great -ass o/ entities passes into spirit0al real-s /ar higher than any
o/ those attained d0ring the highest point o/ attain-ent in the period .hile the solar
-anvantara lasted1 beca0se they are then entering 0pon their !olar nirvana#
9et 0s dra. again the sa-e diagra- that .e copied /ro- A# # %lavats2y at a /or-er
-eeting1 /ro- page 2)) o/ vol0-e $ o/ The Secret Doctrine+The seven parallel lines
represent1 i/ yo0 please1 the seven planes or .orlds o/ the solar syste-# ,bove or on the
lo.est line o/ these seven let 0s place a circle to represent globe =1 o0r earth# 4n the ne3t
plane above .e also place t.o -ore circles to represent the t.o globes i--ediately above
o0r o.n1 called respectively 6 on the le/t and E on the right# 4n the plane above that .e
place t.o -ore globes1 and call these respectively % on the le/t and F on the right# ,nd on
the plane above that1 the /o0rth 2os-ic plane co0nting 0p.ards1 .e dra. t.o -ore circles to
represent the t.o highest globes o/ o0r chain1 respectively , on the le/t and B on the right#
lease re-e-ber that these 2os-ic @planes@ are -erely so called /or p0rposes o/
convenience# They are act0ally the seven 2os-ical lo2as and talas o/ the 2os-ic syste-1
that is to say1 o/ the solar syste-# %0t each one o/ these is a tr0e .orld; they are .orlds as
tr0ly as o0r o.n is1 .hich .e perceive .hen .e loo2 0p and see the stars above 0s1 and loo2
to the earth and see the earth beneath o0r /eet1 the trees gro.ing there/ro-1 the h0-an and
other ani-ate beings .al2ing .ith 0s1 etc# Each one o/ these 2os-ic @planes@ is a .orld1 b0t
each is again s0bdivided into septenary divisions1 into seven divisions1 all o/ the- together
-a2ing *9 s0bdivisions o/ the seven -ain divisions !or .orlds" o/ the solar syste-#
9et 0s ill0strate this by another diagra-# :e dra. again seven parallel lines# ,nd let these
represent1 i/ yo0 please1 the lo.est solar .orld1 or plane1 o/ the seven1 the lo.est 2os-ic
.orld1 o0r .orld1 the .orld .e are in no.# $t1 li2e all the others1 is septe-partite or divided
into seven parts or divisions1 representing -atter or spirit /ro- the grossest to the highest
degree o/ each in our .orld1 /ro- the ethereal !highest" to the -ost -aterial !lo.est"; and on
one o/ these planes o0r globe Terra is at present#
&o. .hat is the -anner in .hich the li/e'.ave in any ro0nd .or2s; For the -o-ent1 i/ yo0
.ill1 .e shall o-it considering the previo0s three globes1 ,1 %1 and 61 on the descending t0rn1
and consider only o0r o.n globe =1 or earth# These seven lines in the diagra- are intended
to represent respectively the seven grades or -aterialiDations o/ -atter in the lo.est o/ the
seven 2os-ic planes1 gro.ing -ore -aterial /ro- the top do.n.ards# &o. then1 o0r globe
= in round the "ir!t is in the highest or top-ost o/ these seven s0bplanes o/ o0r o.n lo.er
2os-ic plane1 and o0r o.n 2os-ic plane1 please re-e-ber1 is the lo.est o/ the seven o/ all
the 2os-ic planes# $t is the seventh and lo.est# The li/e'.ave d0ring ro0nd 1 passes thro0gh
o0r earth1 a/ter evolving it /orth1 a process .hich .e are to st0dy in detail later; it is a process
o/ evol0tionary develop-ent .hich occ0pies -any -illions o/ years; and a/ter /inishing its
globe'ro0nd 11 leaves o0r globe = and passes to the ne3t higher globe E# ,ll right# ,s this
li/e'.ave is descending into -atter /or the /irst three ro0nds1 our glo6ed0ring ro0nd /irst .ill
be on the highest s0bplane o/ the lo.est 2os-ic plane or .orld# The second or ne3t ro0nd
.ill /ind o0r globe -aterialiDed and on s0bplane the second1 co0nting do.n.ards; in ro0nd
the third1 still -ore -aterialiDed and on the third s0bplane do.n.ards; in ro0nd *1 that is1
.here .e are no.1 o0r globe has reached its grossest state o/ -atter; the do.n.ard cycling
ceases1 and the ascent begins#
:hat abo0t s0bplanes (1 C1 and 7; Those planes are related to the destiny o/ beings .ho
have /ollo.ed the le/t'hand path1 and .ho 0lti-ately reach the 0t-ost point o/ physical
-aterialiDation in s0bplane the seventh1 or the grossest possible in o0r solar syste-1 and the
last#
:e see1 th0s1 that the li/e'.ave in -a2ing its /irst ro0nd1 ro0nd 11 as is ill0strated in =iagra-
11 passes thro0gh !on its descending arc thro0gh the lo.est /o0r 2os-ic .orlds or planes"
the highest s0bplane or s0b.orld o/ each one o/ these lo.est /o0r 2os-ic .orlds1 /or-ing in
each s0ch 2os-ic .orld1 a globe1 one o/ the then'in'the'-a2ing seven globes o/ the chain# $s
this clear; $n ro0nd 1 the li/e'.ave /or-s globe , on s0bplane the highest o/ the /o0rth
2os-ic .orld or plane# See the diagra-# $n ro0nd 1 the li/e'.ave /or-s globe % on s0bplane
the highest o/ the /i/th 2os-ic .orld or plane# $n ro0nd 1 the li/e'.ave /or-s globe 6 on
s0bplane the highest o/ the si3th 2os-ic .orld or plane; and so .ith the lo.est globe =1 o0r
earth; and on the a!cending scale li2e.ise .e see globes E1 F1 and B1 si-ilarly /or-ed1 each
on the highest s0bplane o/ the respective 2os-ic .orlds or planes# Ro0nd 2 begins !a/ter the
long1 long planetary nirvana" on globe , on the !econd s0bplane o/ the /o0rth 2os-ic .orld
or plane; then the li/e'.ave passes to globe % on the !econd s0bplane o/ the /i/th 2os-ic
.orld or plane; then to globe 6 on the !econd s0bplane o/ the si3th 2os-ic .orld or plane;
then to globe = !o0r earth" on the !econds0bplane o/ the seventh or lo.est 2os-ic .orld or
plane# Si-ilarly1 d0ring this second planetary ro0nd1 the li/e'.ave passes to all the globes on
all the !econd s0bplanes o/ the a!cending arc+ Each s0ch passage o/ the li/e'.ave in and
thro0gh each globe o/ the seven globes /or-s a glo6e'ro0nd1 as said above#
So .ith ro0nd 31 and again .ith ro0nd *1 .here .e are no. on globe =1 on the /o0rth
s0bplane o/ the seventh or lo.est 2os-ic plane or .orld; that is to say1 that the li/e'.ave
d0ring each planetary ro0nd passes thro0gh the seven globes o/ the chain1 and /ro- 2os-ic
plane to 2os-ic plane1 b0t d0ring each one ro0nd passes thro0gh only one s0bplane o/ each
2os-ic .orld or plane# The res0lt o/ this being that d0ring the seven ro0nds1 it passes
thro0gh *9 s0bplanes1 and the beings co-posing the li/e'.ave thereby have the chance o/
.or2ing o0t the destiny /or .hich they ca-e into active -ani/estation and evol0tion; /or the
.hole p0rpose o/ the evol0tionary processes o/ the 2os-os is /or the gaining o/ sel/'
conscio0sness thro0gh individ0aliDing e3periences ? i#e#1 e3periences
.hich indi4iduali=e !evolve1 bring o0t" the -onads# ,nd in order to attain that end1 each
-onad -0st not -erely 0ndergo and -entally e3perience the vario0s phases and nat0res o/
the 0niversal li/e1 b0t 6e the# ,s pointed o0t be/ore in o0r st0dies1 the initiations o/ old
ti-es1 the realinitiations1 the initiations .hich bro0ght to -an8s conscio0sness the 2no.ledge
o/ the spirit0al tr0ths o/ being1 .ere based on this /act5 that no -an co0ld really 2no.
anything -erely by being ta0ght abo0t it1 b0t he -0st 6e it/ he -0st 6ecoe it+ $n the old
7ystery Schools1 the syste- o/ teaching only d0ring the /irst three initiations .as changed
into both teaching and personal e3perience beginning .ith the /o0rth initiation1 these
personal e3periences gro.ing grander and greater .ith each higher step that the candidate
or initiant too2; 0ntil /inally1 i/ he .as s0ccess/0l in all the seven degrees1 he attained the
divine stat0s /ro- .hich he started /orth in the beginning o/ the 2os-ic or solar
-anvantara1 %lu! di4ine !el"1con!ciou!ne!!/ !el"1awa2ening/ and beca-e thereby a %0ddha1
an ,.a2ened 4ne; or a 6hristos1 to adopt the old Bree2 7ystery'ter-#
=0ring o0r ne3t /e. st0dies .e shall contin0e to investigate the s0b>ect o/ the planetary
chain#
hapter Forty-One
The =octrine o/ the Spheres# The Universal Solar Syste- and o0r Solar
Syste-# The Seven Sacred lanets5 :hy @Sacred@;
%0t Ti-e .as generated together .ith the 0niverse1 that being prod0ced together they
-ight together be dissolved1 i/ any dissol0tion sho0ld ever happen to these# ,nd ti-e .as
generated according to the e3e-plar o/ an eternal nat0re1 that this .orld -ight be the
-ost si-ilar possible to s0ch a nat0re# For its e3e-plar is per-anent being1 thro0gh the
.hole o/ eternity; b0t the 0niverse alone wa! generated1 i!1 and will 6e/ thro0gh the .hole
o/ ti-e# ,/ter this -anner1 there/ore1 and /ro- s0ch a cogitation o/ divinity abo0t the
generation o/ ti-e1 that he -ight give birth to its /lo.ing s0bsistence1 he generated the
s0n and -oon1 and the /ive other stars1 .hich are deno-inated planets1 /or the p0rpose
o/ disting0ishing and g0arding the n0-bers o/ ti-e# %0t the divinity1 as soon as he had
prod0ced the bodies o/ these stars1 placed the-1 being seven in n0-ber1 in the seven
circ0lations /or-ed by the revol0tion o/ the nat0re disting0ished by di""erence# # # # %0t .ith
respect to the other stars1 i/ any one sho0ld thin2 proper to investigate their circ0lations1
and thro0gh .hat ca0ses they are established1 the labo0r .o0ld be greater than that o/
the disco0rse itsel/1 /or the sa2e o/ .hich they .ere introd0ced# ? lato1Tiaeu!/ pp# *C7'
+ !Tho-as Taylor1 trans#"
The lo.er .orld is s0b>ect to the s.ay o/ the 0pper .orld#
$n the beginning o/ its revol0tion the sovereignty over this lo.er .orld is co--itted to one
o/ the slo.'-oving stars#
:hich governeth it alone /or the space o/ a tho0sand years;
,nd /or other tho0sands o/ years each o/ the heavy'-oving stars1 and s.i/t'-oving stars
beco-eth its partner1 each /or one tho0sand years#
9ast o/ all the -oon beco-eth its associate#
,/ter that1 the /irst associate .ill get the sovereignty#
The second 2ing goeth thro0gh the sa-e ro0nd as the /irst 2ing; and the others are in li2e
-anner his associates#
9ast o/ all the /irst 2ing is /or a tho0sand years the partner o/ the second 2ing#
Then the period o/ the reign o/ the second 2ing is also past#
,nd 0nderstand that the sa-e is the co0rse as to all the others#
:hen the 7oon hath been 2ing1 and all have been associates along .ith it1 and its reign
too is over1 one Brand eriod is acco-plished#
,/ter .hich the Sovereignty again ret0rneth to the /irst 2ing1 and in this .ay there is an
eternal s0ccession#
,nd in the beginning o/ the Brand eriod1 a ne. order o/ things co--enceth in the lo.er
.orld#
,nd1 not indeed the very /or-s1 and 2no.ledge1 and events o/ the Brand eriod that hath
elapsed1 b0t others precisely si-ilar to the- .ill again be prod0ced#
,nd every Brand eriod that co-eth rese-bleth /ro- beginning to end the Brand eriod
that is past# ? The De!atir/ @The %oo2 o/ the rophet1 the Breat ,bad1@ vv# 1)2'1C !70lla
Fir0D %in <a0s1 trans#"
F,ST ,RE the reaches o/ both the space and the ti-e1 and pro/o0nd are the -ysteries
li2e.ise1 connected .ith and involved in the s0b>ects .ith .hich o0r present cycle o/ st0dy is
opened; /or these s0b>ects deal in general .ith .hat .e -ay call collectively the doctrine o"
the !%here!5that is to say1 that partic0lar and /0nda-ental branch o/ the archaic philosophy
and religion o/ the ancient .isdo- .hich .as -ost especially developed in the co0ntries
s0rro0nding the 7editerranean or $nland Sea ? a /avored st0dy there1 even as in the Farther
4rient1 a-ong the archaic sages o/ Aind0stan1 the doctrines regarding the .or2ings o/ the
vario0s -onadic states o/ conscio0sness .ere -ore largely developed and priDed#
$n o0r last st0dy .e s2etched1 tho0gh brie/ly1 the o0tline o/ the theosophical doctrine dealing
.ith the planetary chain o/ o0r earth# &o. this s0b>ect o/ planetary chains is a special case1
as -athe-aticians .o0ld say1 o/ the general doctrine o/ the spheres; this s0b>ect has al.ays
been one o/ the -ost care/0lly g0arded1 considered as one o/ the -ost sacred and occ0lt1
beca0se it leads 0s1 in its 0lti-ate reaches1 directly to the heart o/ being# $n order to reach
that heart o/ being .e have to pass thro0gh -any secret cha-bers o/ 7other &at0re1
cha-bers .hich have been held secret /ro- i--e-orial ti-e1 and the arcana o/ .hich have
been g0arded as one o/ the -ost sacred possessions o/ the B0ardians o/ -an2ind#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that o0r st0dies .ere originally opened by ta2ing into consideration the
general o0tline o/ cos-ogony and theogony as /o0nd in the archaic cos-ology and theology
o/ the ancient .isdo-# This .as s2etched in all its general aspects1 as an o0tline only1 details
being le/t /or /illing in at /0t0re dates# :e passed in revie. ? only in s2etch1 please bear in
-ind ? ho. .orlds are born1 ho.1 li2e children1 they spring /ro- the .o-b o/ nat0re; ho.1
/ro- a ger-1 they gro. into yo0th1 reach -at0rity1 then decline1 and /inally decay1 /ollo.ed by
0lti-ate death1 again to res0rrect in cyclic rebirth /ro- that sa-e .o-b o/ 7other &at0re#
$t .as sho.n also that these doctrines o/ the ancient .isdo-1 -ystic1 -arvelo0s1 .onder/0l1
leave no I0ery 0nans.ered1 leave nothing to be b0ilt 0pon -ere /aith ? blind /aith that is; b0t
that each theore- o/ its philosophy -0st be1 and is1 proved1 as the st0dy o/ it progresses#
Re-e-ber .hat proo/ is# roo/ consists in bringing conviction to the -ind; conviction o/ its
reality1 based 0pon evidence1 is the proo/ o/ a /act or theore-# Re-e-ber that the vario0s
circ0-stantial things .hich .e -ay bring in prod0ction o/ proo/ are -erely the evidential part1
the e4idence!o/ reality#
Then1 as .e passed in revie.1 in o0tline only1 these general theore-s1 .e /inally arrived at
the doctrine concerning the planetary chains1 .hich1 as said1 is a special case o/ the general
theore- o/ the .onder/0l doctrine o/ the spheres# Aence/orth o0r st0dies go -ore into detail#
:e have so0ght to cond0ct o0r st0dies together so that the .ritten report o/ these -ay help
those .ho are see2ing deeper 2no.ledge o/ the ancient 7ysteries and o/ the ancient .isdo-
than they can get /ro- the boo2s o/ the .orld# 4ne o/ the reasons /or this is that so-e
st0dents have accepted certain state-ents o/ 7r# Sinnett on this very I0estion o/ the
planetary chain1 to the e//ect that t.o o/ the physical planets o/ o0r solar syste-1 7ars and
7erc0ry1 .ere t.o o/ the -e-bers o/ o0r earth8s planetary chain1 altho0gh A# # %lavats2y in
this very vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine p0blished several years be/ore her death declared
positively that this notion is .rong; /or indeed1 it is not tr0e#
,s o0r st0dies proceed1 yo0 .ill see /or yo0rselves that it cannot be tr0e# 9et -e as2
parenthetically5 :ho .as the originator o/ this idea; No0 .ill re-e-ber that the earliest
teachings .ere given to t.o English-en in $ndia1 7r# ,# 4# A0-e and 7r# ,# # Sinnett1
thro0gh A# # %lavats2y1 thro0gh =a-odar !.ho later .ent to Tibet to >oin the Teachers"1 and
thro0gh one or t.o others# The philosophical1 religio0s1 and scienti/ic teachings that 7r#
Sinnett received in ans.er to I0eries sent by hi- to the 7asters thro0gh A# # %lavats2y and
=a-odar .ere later incorporated by hi- in t.o o/ his .or2s1 The -ccult 7orld and #!oteric
9uddhi!/as he called the-# %oth .ere good boo2s /or their ti-e1 as /ar as they .ent1 b0t
criticiDed also by A# # %lavats2y in The Secret Doctrine /or their -aterialistic bias o/
presentation1 and /or their overe-phasis on certain aspects o/ the teachings to the neglect o/
the higher1 the -ore spirit0al1 the -ore intellect0al1 portions1 in the atte-pt by 7r# Sinnett to
@reconcile@ the teachings o/ the ancient .isdo- .ith .hat he obvio0sly tho0ght .as the last
.ord o/ h0-an 2no.ledge1 the scienti/ic theories and /ads o/ his day# Those scienti/ic
theories and teachings are already o0t o/ date no.1 lost to -ind and -ostly /orgotten#
Science has @-oved@; b0t the teachings o/ the ancient .isdo- have re-ainedK
:e open o0r st0dy this evening1 a/ter these preli-inary observations1 by reading /ro- The
Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $$1 /irst on page C991 @4n 6hains o/ lanets and their l0rality@5
=id the ,ncients 2no. o/ .orlds besides their o.n; :hat are the data o/ the 4cc0ltists in
a//ir-ing that every globe is a septenary chain o/ .orlds ? o/ .hich only one -e-ber is
visible ? and that these are1 .ere1 or .ill be1 @-an'bearing1@ >0st as every visible star or
planet is; :hat do they -ean by @a -oral and physical in/l0ence@ o/ the sidereal .orlds
on o0r globes;
S0ch are the I0estions o/ten p0t to 0s1 and they have to be considered /ro- every
aspect# To the /irst o/ the t.o I0eries the ans.er is5 ? :e believe it beca0se the /irst la.
in nat0re is 0ni/or-ity in diversity1 and the second ? analogy# @,s above1 so belo.#@
,nd then on page 7)35
:hen1 there/ore1 .e /ind in the %ibles o/ A0-anity @other .orlds@ spo2en o/1 .e -ay
sa/ely concl0de that they not only re/er to other states o/ o0r planetary chain and Earth1
b0t also to other inhabited globes ? stars and planets; .ithal1 that the latter .ere never
spec0lated 0pon# The .hole o/ antiI0ity believed in the Universality o/ li/e#
$n entering 0pon the present phase o/ o0r st0dy1 .e are obliged to go into detail# %0t this
entering 0pon a -ore detailed st0dy is attended nat0rally .ith increased di//ic0lties1 not only
beca0se o/ the -any s0b>ects that .e are -ore or less per/orce obliged to -eet in /ollo.ing
the -ain the-e o/ o0r disco0rse1 b0t also /ro- the /act that not one iota o/ teaching can be
o-itted at any one point; it -0st at least be all0ded to i/ the teaching is to re-ain co-plete
and .hole and not a divided thing# Aence .e shall go slo.ly# $t .ere indeed easy to h0rry
over this s0b>ect1 easy to get a general o0tline1 b0t in s0ch case .e co0ld go b0t little /arther
than the s0r/ace -eaning in The Secret Doctrine8 and o0r instr0ctions are5 si-pli/y by
ill0stration1 s0pporting it by con/ir-ation and proo/#
Aence1 let 0s /irst consider .hat .e -ean by the doctrine o/ the spheres1 one o/ the -ost
archaic o/ the ancient 7ysteries# :e -ean /o0r things1 spea2ing generally# These /o0r are as
/ollo.s5 /irst1 the uni4er!al solar syste-# :e -ean by this o0r s0n and all the planetary
bodies in the solar syste-1 visible or invisible1 seen or 0nseen1 2no.n or 0n2no.n1 o.ning
the s0n as their pri-ary# 7odern science today recogniDes seven1 eight1 or perhaps nine
planets1 and a host o/ planetoids1 and no -ore1 as belonging to the solar syste-# 7odern
astrono-y 2no.s nothing o/ the great body o/ the 0niversal solar syste- e3cept its physical
shell1 the o0ter physical clothing o/ it1 the seven1 eight1 or nine planets .hich .e can see .ith
the physical eye in the heavens1 and .hich are co0nted as /ollo.s5 7erc0ry1 Fen0s1 7ars1
E0piter1 Sat0rn1 Uran0s1 &ept0ne# %0t the ancient .isdo-1 the esoteric teaching1 tells 0s that
there are act0ally scores o/ planets in this 0niversal solar syste- o/ o0rs1 and that these
scores1 e3cepting those co0nted by astrono-y1 are all invisible to 0s1 to o0r eyes o/ /o0rth'
plane -atter ? or seventh'plane -atter1 according to the .ay by .hich .e -ay co0nt#
&ept0ne is not a -e-ber o/ o0r 0niversal solar syste-1 according to the ancient .isdo-# :e
.ill deal .ith this -atter later# &e3t1 Uran0s is not a -e-ber o/ our solar syste-1 b0t i! a
-e-ber o/ the uni4er!al solar syste-# :e shall /0lly e3plain .hat .e -ean by our solar
syste-# 6an yo0 bla-e 7r# Sinnett /or not 0nderstanding1 and there/ore thin2ing that he
2ne. -ore than the 7aster did and than A# # %lavats2y did1 and that the archaic teachings
contained contradictions1 .hen the -an co0ld not get it thro0gh his head that the sa-e
.ords -ay be 0sed .ith di//erent -eanings; and that one o/ the /avorite1 sancti/ied1 -ethods
o/ concealing tr0th /ro- those not I0ali/ied to get it is to say t.o1 three1 /o0r1 /ive1 si31 seven
di//erent things .ith the sa-e .ords;
First1 then1 .e have the 0niversal solar syste-1 co-prising the septenary s0n and all the
planets o/ the solar syste-1 visible or invisible1 and on seven planes# Then1 .e have our solar
syste-1 .hich is the second o/ these /o0r aspects o/ the doctrine o/ the spheres1 and is the
gro0p 0s0ally called the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients1 as these seven are related to
o0r planetary chain# The third is so-ething to .hich .e shall -erely all0de as occasion
arises1 and not go -0ch /arther# $t is all0ded to by A# # %lavats2y in the /irst vol0-e !pp#
1C3'*" o/ The Secret Doctrine in her ans.er to part o/ 7r# Sinnett8s -is0nderstanding
regarding the earth8s planetary chain# No0 .ill re-e-ber .here she spea2s o/ the relation o/
7ars and 7erc0ry and the /o0r secret planets to o0r earth; and she e3plains that they all bear
a relation thereto .hich no initiate .ill spea2 o/1 -0ch less e3plain# The /o0rth aspect is o0r
earth8s planetary chain per se#
&o. 7r# Sinnett as2ed his I0estion o/ the Teacher as /ollo.s5 @:hat other planets o/ those
2no.n to ordinary science1 besides 7erc0ry1 belong to o0r syste- o/ .orlds;@ lease -ar2
those /o0r last .ords# ,nd he contin0es5 @,re the -ore spirit0al planets ? !,1 % and N1 H" ?
visible bodies in the s2y or are all those 2no.n to astrono-y o/ the -ore -aterial sort;@ ,nd
the ans.er ca-e as /ollo.s5 @7ars and /o0r other planets o/ .hich astrono-y 2no.s yet
nothing# &either ,1 %1 nor N1 H1 are 2no.n; nor can they be seen thro0gh physical -eans
ho.ever per/ected#@ ,nd yet despite that1 7r# Sinnett ta0ght and clai-ed /or years that t.o o/
o0r visible planets1 7ars and 7erc0ry1 /or- part o/ o0r earth8s septenary planetary chain#
No0 .ill re-e-ber ho. A# # %lavats2y all0des to 7r# Sinnett8s -is0nderstanding o/ the
7aster8s teaching in The Secret Doctrine1 vol0-e $1 especially on pages 1C2'+ incl0sive#
,nyone in reading these pages1 0nless he has a st0lti/ied -ind or is entirely ignorant o/ occ0lt
doctrines1 -0st instantly sense that she is hinting at -ore than one thing# Read those pages
and ponder the- .ell# ,t o0r ne3t -eeting .e are going into this -atter -ore deeply#
&o. then1 /or a brie/ revie.1 /irst1 o/ o0r 0niversal solar syste-5 .e -ean by that e3pression
all bodies and every body belonging to the s0n1 and revolving aro0nd it# The s0n is their
pri-ary; they circle aro0nd the s0n as satellites or planets1 visible or invisible; that is1 the
e3pression uni4er!al !olar !&!te -eans not only the -ere shell o/ nat0re ? co-posed o/
the seven1 eight1 or nine planets1 that the eye sees ? b0t also the great inner core o/ the solar
syste-1 it! !e4en %lane! o" 6eing+ There are act0ally scores o/ planets in o0r 0niversal solar
syste-1 o/ .hich .e see only seven physical ones1 on the sa-e plane as the earth; and i/ .e
co0nt o0r globe as one1 there are eight# &ept0ne1 ho.ever1 as already said1 does not belong
to it; Uran0s does not belong to our syste- o/ .orlds !or our solar syste-"1 b0t it does belong
to the uni4er!al solar syste-1 beca0se it is a tr0e planet inti-ately connected .ith o0r s0n as
regards its origin and destiny#
$n order to -a2e this point -ore clear1 let -e ill0strate .hat &ept0ne is by a very /ort0nate
ill0stration .hich .e can dra. /ro- -odern science# No0 2no. that che-ical physics1 or
physical che-istry1 teaches that the ato- is co-posed o/ a central n0cle0s1 .hich has been
called the proton1 ans.ering in the ato- to .hat o0r s0n is in the 0niversal solar syste-; and
that aro0nd this central n0cle0s1 revolving .ith vertigino0s rapidity1 are other bodies .hich
they call electrons# The che-ists theoriDe ? and occ0ltis- says that this theory is tr0e1 yo0
can /ind the proo/ o/ it in The Secret Doctrine ? to the e//ect that i/ one o/ these ato-ic
planets or electrons is torn o0t /ro- that ato-1 the ato- itsel/ is altered or changed; not alone
does the electric charge o/ the ato- vary1 b0t the ato- itsel/ is de /acto altered; and also i/1
so to say1 the ato- is electron'h0ngry1 i/ an electron sho0ld pass near ? $ a- 0sing very
si-ple lang0age in order to convey the idea ? sho0ld pass near that ato-ic solar syste-1 it
-ay be capt0red1 in .hich case the ato-ic electric h0nger is satis/ied1 .hile the ato-ic
valency is altered#
&ept0ne1 altho0gh a @planet@ in the sense that it does revolve aro0nd the s0n1 is not a tr0e
-e-ber o/ o0r solar syste- in any sense# $t is a @capt0re1@ and its capt0re changed in one
sense the entire nat0re o/ o0r 0niversal solar syste-; and it .ill re-ain capt0red 0ntil the
2ar-ic ti-e shall co-e /or it to leave 0s# $t is capt0red e3actly as so-e o/ the planets have
capt0red @-oons#@ :hy is it1 .e -ay as21 in passing1 that Fen0s and 7erc0ry have no
-oons; and that 7ars is said to have t.o1 and Sat0rn nine1 and E0piter nine1 .hereas .e
2no. by o0r teaching that each planet can have b0t one tr0e -oon1 the others being -ere
capt0res1 satellites; &o.1 s0ppose .e .ere to say that in the past aeons o/ ti-e1 a co-et1
nearing the planetary stage1 passed s0//iciently close to the gravitational attraction o/ o0r
0niversal solar syste- on its o.n plane o/ being to be capt0red1 and that d0e to the interplay
o/ vario0s /orces it settled into an orbit aro0nd o0r s0n; and that long aeons later o0r
astrono-ers discovered it and na-ed it &ept0ne# lease consider that as a theory# :e .ill
leave it1 i/ yo0 .ill1 /or the ti-e1 and call it a theory#
:e have said that Uran0s is not a -e-ber o/ our solar syste-# :e repeat the state-ent# $t is
a -e-ber1 ho.ever1 o/ o0r uni4er!al solar syste-#
No0 see ho. it .as that 7r# Sinnett1 thro0gh lac2 o/ esoteric training1 thro0gh lac2 o/
2no.ledge o/ the ancient .isdo-1 thro0gh being absol0tely psychologiDed .ith the splendid
achieve-ents in p0rely physical discovery o/ the -arvelo0s scienti/ic advance o/ his day ?
the @last .ord o/ 2no.ledge1@ it act0ally .as proclai-ed in the scienti/ic periodicals o/ that
day ? pre/erred the scienti/ic theories and /ads o/ the period to the tenets o/ the ancient
.isdo-1 those tenets .hich have been proved by generation a/ter generation o/ titanic
intellects1 o/ -en1 great seers1 .ho had /or i--e-orial ages tested nat0re1 sending their
so0ls into the very .o-b o/ -atter1 into all its seven planes or spheres1 and /inding o0t the
tr0th1 the reality1 o/ things#
&o.1 please note5 7r# Sinnett8s I0estion re/erred to @o0r syste- o/ .orlds#@ =o yo0 not see
ho. vag0e that I0estion .as; ,t least /o0r di//erent aspects o/ the doctrine o/ the spheres
co0ld be -eant by those .ords# The Teachers had been 0rging 7essrs# Sinnett and A0-e to
adopt a de/inite English ter-inology and no-enclat0re .hich1 indeed1 7r# Sinnett did adopt1
to a certain e3tent# :e o.e -any o/ o0r co--on ter-s and e3pressions to hi-1 and .e are
d0ly grate/0l to hi- /or the good .or2 that he did in this respect; b0t -any o/ these ter-s are
too vag0e# For instance1 the ter- @root'race@ is a -ost 0n/ort0nate one# ,t a later date .e
shall have to sho. ho. 0n/ort0nate it is# :e propose to adopt the 7aster8s o.n ter- @stoc2'
race1@ 0sing the .ord @stoc2@ in the sense o/ 6od& ortrun2# :e o.e to 7r# Sinnett also the
e3pression @ro0nd1@ -eaning the passage o/ the li/e'.ave /ro- globe ,1 the /irst o/ o0r
earth8s chain1 to globe B1 or the seventh at the end; and -any -ore o/ the .ords1 phrases1
and -0ch o/ the technical vocab0lary .hich is co--only e-ployed by 0s today are d0e to
7r# Sinnett and 7r# A0-e#
The I0estion abo0t @o0r syste- o/ .orlds@ as2ed by 7r# Sinnett provided a per/ect opening
/or the 7aster to tell hi- the tr0th in .holly general ter-s1 and yet to hide /ro- hi- that .hich
he sho0ld not 2no.# Aad 7r# Sinnett been de/inite eno0gh in his I0estion ? indeed1 to p0t it
in another .ay1 had he been .ise eno0gh to as2 a per/ectly de/inite I0estion ? it .o0ld have
been -0ch -ore di//ic0lt and e-barrassing to the Teacher1 in vie. o/ necessary secrecy1 to
give a de/inite ans.er# $n s0ch case1 7r# Sinnett .o0ld have got a de/inite ans.er; or he
.o0ld have been told that his I0estion .as one that sho0ld not be ans.ered1 as indeed
happened in several cases# %0t .hat .as the act0al ans.er that he got; :e have read it1
and it contains several points o/ teaching 0nder and in the .ords# ,ll these /o0r aspects o/
the general doctrine o/ the spheres1 .hich .e have been all0ding to1 are contained in the
7aster8s ans.er in the /or- o/ hint and all0sion1 .ith especial re/erence to the -ost esoteric#
@40r syste- o/ .orlds@ .as ta2en at its /ace val0e1 >0st as the vag0e and inde/inite I0estion
? /ro- the vie.point o/ occ0ltis- ? o0ght to have been ta2en# The archaic la. is that only
those .ho 2noc2 at the door in the right anner can enter therein# ,ll depends 0pon .hich
door yo0 2noc2 at; and this is an old r0le1 ancient1 ancient1 ancient1 r0nning bac2 into
i--e-orial ti-e1 to the very days o/ the later ,tlanteans .hen the 7ysteries .ere /irst
established in order to segregate the nobler portion o/ the ,tlantean /ol2 /ro- those .ho .ere
degenerating and r0shing to their doo-#
So1 then1 please 0nderstand per/ectly clearly that o0r uni4er!al solar syste- o/ .orlds -eans
o0r s0n and all the planetary bodies .hatsoever in the solar syste-1 o/ .hatever degree or
2ind1 on .hatever plane1 inner or o0ter1 and in .hatever orbits they -ay be revolving aro0nd
their pri-ary1 the s0n# Re-e-ber li2e.ise in this connection that o0r solar syste- is
septenary1 that it is co-posed o/ seven planes1 or .orlds1 and hence that there are seven
s0ns in it1 o/ .hich .e see b0t one s0n1 the lo.est in degree#
:e -ight as .ell say here and no.1 beca0se it is a part o/ o0r st0dy1 that the inhabitants o/
the three globes preceding o0rs and those o/ the three globes /ollo.ing o0rs1 in o0r earth8s
planetary chain1 in each case1 see t.o s0ns# ,n ill0stration o/ this .e have /ort0nately in
-odern astrono-y1 in .hat are called the star'do0bles# There are -any 2inds o/ do0bles# $
do not -ean -ere optical do0bles1 b0t tr0e solar pairs or co0ples1 .hich is a /act o/ being
closely connected .ith the very interesting and also -ysterio0s doctrine o/ obsc0rations1 into
.hich .e shall have to go in p0rs0ing this o0r present st0dy o/ the earth8s planetary chain#
%0t these stellar co0ples or do0bles sho. that those s0ns1 .hich are seen as do0bles1 /or- a
septenary syste- .hich1 li2e o0r o.n s0n1 have a lo.er single s0n1 or lo.er /o0rth'plane
s0n1 >0st as o0r o.n physical s0n is# No0 see here ho. one 2ey to the ancient .isdo- .ill
open the door to nat0re8s secret cha-bers# &ever /orget the old Aer-etic a3io-5 analogy is
nat0re8s /0nda-ental la.1 @,s above1 so belo.#@
&e3t5 the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients ? .hich ones are they; They are as /ollo.s# $
a- not na-ing the- in their proper esoteric order; $ a- na-ing the- in the old e3oteric
Bree2 .ay5 7oon1 7erc0ry1 Fen0s1 S0n1 7ars1 E0piter1 Sat0rn# &ote1 /irst1 that o0r Earth is
not one o/ these seven sacred or secret planets# Second1 that the 7oon !the /irst one in order
o/ en0-eration1 preceding 7erc0ry" and the S0n1 are considered here in e3oteric
en0-eration as planets# ,ct0ally1 ho.ever1 they stand /or t.o secret planets .hich are
invisible to 0s5 the S0n /or an intra'7erc0rial planet .hich .e .ill1 i/ yo0 li2e1 /or p0rposes o/
convenience1 call F0lcan1 a planet visible to the -en o/ the third root'race ? or stoc2'race ? in
this ro0nd1 b0t .hich no. has disappeared /ro- o0r vision# $t .ill reappear1 ho.ever1 as o0r
o.n race progresses to higher levels o/ perception# The 7oon1 again1 as said1 stands /or
another secret planet .hich is no. dying1 having nearly reached the end o/ its septenary li/e
cycle# %e/ore the Earth has reached it! seventh ro0nd1 o0r 7oon .ill have disintegrated into
ato-ic stellar d0st; and this present secret planet1 being a dying planet1 this 7ystery'planet
/or .hich the 7oon is the e3oteric s0bstit0te1 .ill then be the satellite o/ the Earth in place o/
the 7oon that .as and no. is; b0t that planet'satellite .ill not be a tr0e oon1 b0t a -ere
satellite# lease note the di//erence# For instance1 the planet 7ars has t.o satellites1 hobos
and =ei-os# hobos is not a -oon; b0t =ei-os is a tr0e -oon1 b0t not o/ 7ars# hobos is a
capt0re1 as .e -ay say1 by 7ars#
This s0b>ect o/ the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients is inti-ately bo0nd 0p .ith the
doctrine o/ o0r o.n earth8s planetary chain1 the latter a speci/ic instance o/ the general
doctrine o/ the spheres; and .e shall have to go into this s0b>ect as a /or-al st0dy# %0t let 0s
point o0t1 be/ore closing tonight1 that the s0n and -oon1 as /or-ing t.o o/ those seven secret
planets in the e3oteric en0-eration1 are s0bstit0tes /or t.o secret and invisible planets1
brie/ly spo2en o/ already# F0rther-ore1 .ith regard to 7ars1 there is a -ystery ? i#e#1 esoteric1
secret ? connected .ith this -atter .hich .e have not ti-e to go into tonight1 b0t in it lies the
reason .hy A# # %lavats2y1 in all0ding to these seven secret planets on a certain page
o/ The Secret Doctrine spea2s only o/ /o0r ? Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7erc0ry1 and Fen0s ? and hints
at three -ore .hich she does not -ention there as belonging to the gro0p o/ the seven
sacred planets o/ the ancients#
&ote also that every one o/ the seven globes o/ o0r earth8s planetary chain is 0nder the
g0idance1 and is act0ally /or-ed by1 one o/ the seven sacred planets .hich1 /or this reason1
.ith other reasons1 .as called sacred# So1 again1 each root'race ? or stoc2'race ? o/ every
one o/ the seven globes d0ring each globe'ro0nd is 0nder the protection and g0idance o/ one
o/ the seven sacred planets# %0t the -ain reason /or calling the- sacred is this5 as o0r
0niversal solar syste- is co-posed o/ seven planes o/ being1 in other .ords1 is co-posed o/
seven .orlds1 seven planes1 seven spheres o/ li/e and activity ? not globes b0t spheres in the
larger sense1 as .hen a -an says spheres o/ activity ? .e search /or an ans.er to the
I0estion1 :hy is it so; Aere is the ans.er1 and it sho.s .hy these planets are called sacred#
These seven planets are the ho0ses1 each one to each one1 o/ the seven logoi o/ our solar
syste-1 th0s /or-ing a -inor gro0p at the head o/ .hich is one o/ the seven pri-ordial logoi
o/ the 0niversal solar syste-# :hen o0r 0niversal solar syste- ca-e o0t o/ latency as a
neb0la1 later it beca-e a co-et1 still later separating into s0n and planets1 each one p0rs0ing
its o.n partic0lar li/e'path; the separation o/ the neb0lar inner li/e into seven cos-ic /orces
/or /0t0re li/e activities .as done by the seven pri-ordial logoi#
0t it in this .ay5 the chie/ 9ogos o/ the 0niversal solar syste- is seven/old1 septenary1 i#e#1
the solar 9ogos ? %rah-a1 as the Aind0s .o0ld p0t it ? is septenary# Then1 each o/ these
seven -inor logoi1 again s0bdividing into seven /orces or po.ers1 /or- seven/old gro0ps or
-inor solar syste-s1 and our solar syste- is one o/ s0ch gro0ps5 seven -inor logoi1 each
one1 each to each1 is the rector1 the g0ide1 o/ one o/ the seven sacred planets; i/ yo0 li2e1 its
in/or-ing so0l# %0t1 -ar2 this5 this /or-er s0bdivision co-poses the li/e /orces o/ our solar
syste-# Aence our solar syste- /or-s a gro0p .ithin the 0niversal solar syste-# :e have
e3plained .hat .e -ean be/ore# $n other .ords1 then1 there are /orty'nine o/ these -inor
logoi in o0r 0niversal solar syste-; b0t o0r sacred seven .hich .ith o0r earth8s planetary
chain co-pose our solar syste-1 belong to our solar 9ogos# $n still other .ords1 p0t it in this
.ay5 as the s0n has its spectr0- o/ seven rays1 so each one o/ these rays again is
s0bdivided into seven -inor rays# lease consider that as an ill0stration# 40r planetary chain1
yo0 .ill re-e-ber1 .hich .ill be the s0b>ect o/ o0r ne3t st0dy1 consists o/ seven globes1
collectively the developed seven/old entity o/ a /or-er seven/old chain in another li/e cycle or
-anvantara1 .hich chain is no. dead1 b0t /0nctioning no. as o0r -oon'chain# ,nd
re-e-ber that .hen .e say o0r -oon in this partic0lar case .e -ean the seven/old -oon1
the entire de/inite septenary entity# 40r present -oon1 as a -atter o/ /act1 is not
the%h&!ical -oon that .as1 .hich has disappeared1 b0t is its 2a-a'r0pa1 its va-piriDing
shell1 p0rely and tr0ly in -ore than one sense va-piriDing# $t is a phanto- o/ the -oon that
.as1 its tr0e shell# 40r earth1 .hich gre. /ro- it1 dra.s still /ro- it the li/e'ato-s .hich the
2ar-ic destiny o/ o0r earth obliges it to gather into itsel/1 /or its .eal or /or its .oe1 as the
case -ay be#
hapter Forty-Two
The =octrine o/ the Spheres in its Fo0r ,spects# The Seven Sacred lanets and
Their Rectors5 Their Relation to o0r Earth'6hain# The 6irc0lations o/ the
<os-os5 40ter Ro0nds and $nner Ro0nds; Sishtas# 4ne Universal %asic
9a.5 ,s ,bove1 So %elo.# The Eye and the Aeart =octrines#
The -ost celebrated o/ the %abylonians1 together .ith 4stanes and Horoaster1 very
properly call the starry spheres herds; .hether beca0se these alone a-ong corporeal
-agnit0des1 are per/ectly carried abo0t a centre1 or in con/or-ity to the oracles1 beca0se
they are considered by the- as in a certain respect the bonds and collectors o/ physical
reasons1 .hich they li2e.ise call in their sacred disco0rses herds Lagela!M1 and by the
insertion o/ a ga--a Langelou!M1 angels# :here/ore the stars .hich preside over each o/
these herds are considered de-ons si-ilar to the angels1 and are called archangels5 and
they are seven in n0-ber# ? ,non#1Theologuen!i! )rithetici! !6ory1 )ncient
Fragent!/ p# 27C"
The @=octrine o/ the Eye@ is /or the cro.d1 the @=octrine o/ the Aeart1@ /or the elect# The
/irst repeat in pride5 @%ehold1 $ 2no.1@ the last1 they .ho in h0-bleness have garnered1
lo. con/ess1 @th0s have $ heard#@ # # #
The =har-a o/ the @Eye@ is the e-bodi-ent o/ the e3ternal1 and the none3isting#
The =har-a o/ the @Aeart@ is the e-bodi-ent o/ %odhi1 the er-anent and Everlasting#
? The :oice o" the Silence/ pp# 271 29
TAE TR,=$T$4&S o/ -an2ind tell 0s1 and the records o/ the ancient .isdo- corroborate the
traditions1 that the doctrines .hich .e have been st0dying /or the last /o0r years or so have
co-e do.n to 0s 0ni-paired and in their pristine p0rity1 in the charge o/ great -inds1 great
-en1 great so0ls# These traditions as the ages passed1 dating /ro- the -idpoint o/ the /o0rth
stoc2'race or the ,tlantean1 too2 vario0s /or-s as they .ere given o0t -ore or less /0lly at
di//erent ti-es; too2 /or-s1 .e say1 in the vario0s great .orld religions; and it is at the bac2
o/1 behind1 0nder the s0r/ace o/1 these great .orld religions that .e /ind -any1 i/ not all1 o/ the
doctrines o/ the ancient .isdo-# :e sho0ld not incl0de in these religions th0s spo2en o/1 the
vario0s s-aller religions or I0asi'religio0s c0lts1 ho.ever large their e3tent a-ong -an2ind
-ay have been1 beca0se these s-aller religions .ere o/ten the o//spring o/ -en .ho
i-per/ectly 0nderstood the ancient .isdo-1 and .ho1 in so-e cases1 .ere act0ally 0n/aith/0l
to their o.n teachers# ,nd therein .e -ay /ind one o/ the do-inating reasons .hy these
archaic teachings have al.ays been held as sacred and secret; beca0se1 as .as told to 7r#
Sinnett and 7r# A0-e1 the 7asters had and have no .ish to /oist another -ere e3oteric
religion on a .orld already priest'ridden and creed'b0rdened#
, so0rce .hich is poll0ted at its /o0ntainhead can hardly give /orth the p0re springs .hich
heal# The best antidote /or /olly is .isdo-; /or ignorance1 real 2no.ledge; /or /alse and
there/ore .holly 0na0thoriDed theosophy1 the archaic teachings o/ the .isdo-'religion#
:e ta2e 0p again tonight the st0dy .hich .as beg0n at o0r -eeting last .ee2; and the -ain
the-e then .as .hat .as called the doctrine o/ the spheres1 o/ .hich the doctrine o/ o0r
planetary chain1 the planetary chain o/ o0r solar syste-1 is a partic0lar case# 9et 0s pass in
brie/ revie.1 at the sa-e ti-e perhaps slightly bettering1 the e3planation that .as then -ade#
The doctrine o/ the spheres co-prises the entirety o/ the teachings dealing .ith the origin1
the li/e1 and the destiny o/ the spheres or planets1 and o/ the s0n1 belonging to and
co-posing o0r 0niversal solar syste-# %y @0niversal@ solar syste- .e -ean all the bodies
.hatsoever1 2no.n and 0n2no.n1 visible and invisible1 that revolve aro0nd the s0n1 .hich is
their pri-ary# There are -any s0ch planets1 scores o/ the-1 -ost o/ the- invisible to o0r
eyes o/ /lesh#
The second aspect o/ the doctrine o/ the spheres is the s0bsidiary doctrine o/ the planetary
chains# Each one o/ these planets is a seven/old body1 co-prising in a 0nity seven globes;
and one o/ the seven is visible to o0r eyes in the cases o/ the seven or eight or nine planets
2no.n to astrono-y1 beca0se o0r eyes have been trained thro0gh evol0tion on this planet to
see the-1 /or these /e. cases belong to o0r o.n @plane#@ :hen .e shall be on the globes o/
o0r chain to .hich .e shall pass .hen leaving this earth1 o0r senses .ill then be trained by
nat0re1 by evol0tion1 to cogniDe1 to sense and to see ? to 2no.1 in other .ords1 other celestial
bodies1 other planets o/ o0r 0niversal solar syste-# Si-ilarly .as it the case .ith the globes
.hich .e le/t in descending the planetary chain# Each planetary chain1 there/ore1 has seven
globes1 according to the teachings1 e3isting on /o0r planes5 t.o globes on each one o/ the
three higher planes1 and o/ these seven globes only one is on the lo.est plane; o0r earth is
on this lo.est or /o0rth plane o/ o0r chain# This doctrine o/ the planetary chain is o0r -ain
the-e o/ st0dy at present#
The third aspect o/ the doctrine o/ the spheres is .hat has been called the seven sacred
planets o/ the ancients ? li2e.ise a teaching co-prising a seven/old -ystery# These planets
are respectively Sat0rn1 E0piter1 7ars1 S0n !.hich is a s0bstit0te /or en0-erative reasons /or
an intra'7erc0rial planet"1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 and o0r 7oon .hich is also a s0bstit0te /or a
planet near o0r Earth1 and .hich is no. dying# These seven sacred planets o/ the ancients
.ere called sacred /or the reasons set /orth in o0r last st0dy# They are the ho0ses o/ the
seven /orces o/ one o/ the seven chie/ rays o/ the solar 9ogos5 this one chie/ ray being o0r
partic0lar logos# This doctrine is really very si-ple1 b0t beca0se it is a case o/ seven involved
in seven1 it so0nds very co-plicated; act0ally it is not# There are seven -ain or chie/ rays or
/orces .hich -a2e and .hich in/or- the s0n; and these seven /orces are the seven solar
logoi# Each one o/ these seven -ain logoi is s0bdivided in its t0rn into seven; and these
seven s0bdivisions o/ one chie/ ray or logos /or- the rectors1 the genii1 the archangels i/ yo0
.ill1 o/ .hich the seven sacred planets are the ho0ses#
Each one o/ these seven sacred planets .as inti-ately concerned in b0ilding one o/ the
globes o/ o0r planetary chain# Each one o/ the stoc2'races or root'races on any one o/ o0r
seven globes d0ring the passage thro0gh it o/ the evolving li/e'.ave1 is li2e.ise 0nder the
direct governance and control o/ one o/ these seven sacred planets; and .hen .e say
@planet1@ please note care/0lly that .e do not -ean the -ere physical body o/ it1 the planet
.hich .e see; that is b0t the ho0se o/ the seven/old dhyan'chohan1 the rector1 the geni0s1
that partic0lar solar /orce .hich has b0ilded and .hich 0ses that planet as its ho0se ? its
@nerve center1@ so to say#
The /o0rth aspect o/ the 0niversal solar syste- deals .ith the gro0p .hich is so sacred that1
as A# # %lavats2y says on pages 1C3'* o/ vol0-e $ o/The Secret Doctrine5 @,s to 7ars1
7erc0ry1 and 8the /o0r other planets18 they bear a relation to Earth o/ .hich no -aster or high
4cc0ltist .ill ever spea2 Lin p0blic1 .e sho0ld addM1 -0ch less e3plain the nat0re#@
This doctrine o/ the spheres is /0ll o/ .onder# :e have -erely s2etched an o0tline o/ it; and
closely connected .ith it is a t.in doctrine1 even -ore sacred and -ore -ysterio0s1 .hich
.e -ay call the doctrine o" the circulation! o" the 2o!o!/ o/ .hich the circ0lations o/ the
/orces o/ the 0niversal solar syste- are a special case# &ote here in passing1 that the
.or2ings o/ 2ar-a and the reincarnation o/ the h0-an so0l on earth are special cases1 again1
o/ these t.o doctrines5 the doctrine o/ the circ0lations .hich -a2e the actions o/ 2ar-a to be;
and the doctrine o/ -an8s s0ccessive rei-bodi-ent in ho0ses o/ /lesh1 as the doctrine o/ the
spheres sho.s the b0ilding o/ other globes in ho0ses o/ physical /or-1 /it /or the evolving
so0ls1 and providing bodies /or the- corresponding to each one o/ those globes# This
doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os is one .hich .e approach .ith a great deal o/
ca0tion# :e sho0ld re-e-ber that .hatever -ay be said on that s0b>ect here at present
does not by any -eans incl0de all that co0ld be said abo0t this recondite s0b>ect; no1 not
one'tenth# This doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os1 or o/ the circ0lations o/ the li/e
/orces in the 0niversal solar syste-1 a-ong -any other things1 deals .ith the passage o/ the
li/e'.ave /ro- globe to globe on o0r planetary chain; e3plains to 0s and el0cidates ho. this is
done; .hile the doctrine o/ the spheres sets /orth to .hat globes these circ0lations go1 into
.hich globes these circ0lations enter1 and in .hat states those globes are le/t .hen their
respective li/e cycles are co-pleted# This applies also1 o/ co0rse1 to 0s here on earth1 and to
the li/e'ato-s on o0r globe here; and1 /or instance1 tells 0s o/ s0ch -en as .e shall be on the
ne3t globe /ollo.ing this o0r earth and s0ch as .e .ere on the globe preceding this earth#
,nd so1 on all the globes o/ o0r chain the li/e'.ave /0nctions si-ilarly; that is to say1 these
circ0lations are related to each globe and to all#
&e3t1 .ith regard to these planetary rectors or genii or dhyan'chohans ? each s0bsidiary
solar logos o/ the seven -inor logoi o/ one chie/ 9ogos /or-ing the presiding geni0s o/ each
globe ? they act0ally are the b0ilders o/ o0r planetary chain1 pl0s the ind.elling li/e or
s.abhava belonging to o0r o.n planetary chain# The h0-an seed is so.n1 /or e3a-ple; it
gro.s1 beco-es an e-bryo1 /inally is born1 gro.s into a -an# There is the ind.elling li/e1 the
character1 the in.ard 0rge1 the /or.ard p0sh1 the develop-ent o/ the inner /ac0lties; b0t this
is done in a .orld o/ s0rro0nding /orces .hich a//ect it pro/o0ndly by action and reaction1 or
2ar-a# So .ith the globes; so .ith o0r planetary chain as a .hole#
9et 0s also re-ar2 in passing that these seven sacred planets are pro/o0ndly instr0-ental in
b0ilding o0r planetary chain; b0t the earth also itsel/ is one o/ another gro0p or series o/
seven planets1 .hich b0ild or cooperate in b0ilding the planetary chain o/ certain other ones
o/ o0r planets ? so closely interrelated and interloc2ed are the /0nctionings o/ the li/e /orces
and li/e'.aves in o0r solar 2os-os1 o0r 0niversal solar syste-#
&o. brie/ly passing in revie. I0estions .hich .e shall st0dy in detail later1 please bear in
-ind that the li/e'.ave in any planetary chain ? .e .ill ta2e o0r o.n as an instance o/ the
r0le ? passes once /ro- the /irst globe to the seventh1 thro0gh all the seven globes; and
.hen it has th0s passed once thro0gh the seven globes o/ the chain it co-pletes .hat .e
call one chain'ro0nd1 round being a .ord .hich 7r# Sinnett coined /or this p0rpose1 and
.hich .e still 0se# Seven s0ch chain'ro0nds co-plete a li/e cycle o/ o0r planetary chain#
Then .hat happens;
:e no. approach another -ystery# There are o0ter ro0nds and inner ro0nds# The inner
ro0nd co-prises the passages o/ the li/e'.ave in any one planetary chain /ro- globe , to
globe B !or H" once aro0nd1 and this ta2es place seven ti-es in a planetary -anvantara# The
o0ter ro0nd ? please listen care/0lly ? co-prises the passage o/ the entirety o/ a planetary
chain8s li/e'.ave1 by the .or2ing o/ the doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the solar syste-1 /ro-
one o/ these sacred planets to another1 and this /or seven ti-es#
Reverting /or a -o-ent again to a ro0nd in a planetary chain5 on o0r globe1 the ind.elling
egoic /orce in any one -an1 or in any one li/e'entity1 evolves /or itsel/ bodies correspondential
to its s0rro0ndings ? bodies o0ter1 bodies inner# The higher ones o/ these inner bodies .e
-ay call -onadic eggs; and .hen the li/e'.ave leaves any one s0ch globe o/ the seven o/
that planetary chain in order to pass to the ne3t globe1 the vehicles correspondential and
belonging to that partic0lar globe1 its o.n evol0tions thereon1 re-ain behind as the !i!hta!/ a
Sans2rit .ord -eaning @re-ainders1@ in order to serve as the /irst vehicles or bodies /or the
-onads .hen the sa-e li/e'.ave ret0rns on the s0cceeding cycle1 and a/ter aeons 0pon
aeons o/ ti-e the -onads o/ the ret0rning li/e'.ave /ind these @sleeping spheres@ or dor-ant
@li/e'ato-s@ or vehicles .aiting /or the-# These sleeping spheres or dor-ant li/e'ato-s are
correspondential1 each one and all o/ the-1 to the partic0lar globe o/ the planetary chain
.hich had evolved the-# Th0s the sishtas are the already evolved orindi4iduali=ed vehicles
or @li/e'ato-s@ /it to receive the ret0rning -onadic host#
9et 0s no. ill0strate this doctrine o/ o0r planetary chain by dra.ing seven circles1 each circle
to be one o/ the -ani/ested globes o/ o0r planetary chain#
The li/e'.ave enters globe ,1 r0ns thro0gh its li/e cycle there1 and then passes on to globe %#
Finishing its cycle on globe %1 it passes on to globe 6; and then to globe =1 the lo.est o/ the
seven# $n o0r o.n chain1 globe = is o0r earth# :e dra. straight lines 0nder the three higher
pairs1 and one straight line 0nder globe =# These lines represent the /o0r lo.est planes or
.orlds o/ o0r solar syste-1 o0r 0niversal solar syste-# There are yet three higher planes or
.orlds1 -a2ing seven in all; and beyond these higher three planes1 there are still three -ore1
th0s -a2ing the per/ect n0-ber ten# 4/ these last three and highest planes or .orlds1 .e
shall say nothing -ore here#
%0t no. let 0s dra. on the three higher planes o/ the seven1 /ive -ore circles representing
globes as /ollo.s5 t.o globes on the lo.est plane o/ these three highest1 t.o -ore globes on
the plane above that; and one globe on the seventh plane /ro- the botto-1 th0s /or-ing the
ac-e or s0--it# :e then shall have t.elve globes in o0r planetary chain5 seven -ani/est1
and /ive hid; and this is the syste- o/ constr0ction !o/ the solar logoic /orce" .hich .e are
going to st0dy ? each one o/ these t.elve globes1 by the .ay1 corresponding in the ancient
.isdo- to one o/ the t.elve signs o/ the Dodiac# No0 see1 then1 that there are seven globes
in -ani/estation; one visible to 0s1 the lo.est and the /o0rth; si3 higher in a6!condito or hid;
and /inally /ive globes on the three higher planes o/ the seven planes1 /or-ing there/ore
seven pl0s /ive1 or t.elve globes in all# This is >0st a s2etch1 at the present ti-e1 -erely
o0tlining the teachings#
The I0estion nat0rally arises5 :hat is it that circles /ro- globe to globe o/ a planetary chain
in the inner ro0nds1 and passes /ro- one to the other and each in t0rn o/ the seven sacred
planets in the o0ter ro0nds; :e have said that each globe o/ a chain1 .hen the li/e'.ave
leaves it1 retains its hosts o/ -onadic eggs as the sishtas# :e 0sed the .ord @-onadic@ there
in a general sense; that is to say1 it applies in all cases to that partic0lar part o/ the entire
h0-an spirit0al'psychological'physical econo-y .hich corresponds to that partic0lar globe ?
.hich belongs to it1 in short1 and .hich is le/t behind -0ch as a traveler leaves behind a
ho0se or clothing /it /or certain cli-ates and .eathers .hen he goes else.here; beca0se he
is co-ing bac2 to that his I0onda- ho-e# %0t .hat is it1 .hat is that /inal 0lti-ate1 that
-onad1 that higher -onad1 .hich provides and really is the 0ndying seed /ro- .hich all
these others spring /orth; That is .hat A# # %lavats2y called the spirit0al sel/1 the divine
so0l; the i--ortal seed1 the Father'7other1 the so0rce1 the /o0ntainhead ? give it any na-e
yo0 li2e ? o/ the ovi/or- body1 the a0ric egg1 .hich in its essence1 not in its shape1 contains
the divine'spirit0al individ0ality o/ -an or o/ any other li/e'entity# That is deathless1 birthless; it
lasts thro0gho0t the entire solar -anvantara1 and goes into the s0pre-e paranirvana only
.hen the 0niversal solar syste- in the d0e co0rse o/ its cyclic evol0tion passes /inally into
pralaya or latency#
E0st thin2 a -o-ent1 .hat does all this -ean; This -eans that on any one partic0lar globe ?
let 0s ta2e o0rs1 o0r globe earth1 as an ill0stration1 and 0s -en as the e3a-ples /or the
ill0stration ? .e evolve here partly /ro- .ithin .itho0t by o0r o.n inner s.abhavic 0rge1 and
partly /ro- .itho0t in.ards by the reaction o/ nat0re aro0nd 0s1 certain personalities and
certain characters and certain vehicles e3actly correspondential to the globe on .hich .e
then are# Those characters and personalities and vehicles are 0tterly 0n/it /or another globe1
0tterly 0n/it /or another plane# They co0ld no -ore pass to another plane or live on another
globe than1 let 0s say1 a rose co0ld live at the botto- o/ the ocean# They do not belong there;
they belong on this earth; they belong in the -aterial and psychological at-ospheres o/ this
earth; they belong in and to that partic0lar .orld o/ circ0lation o/ /orces .hich -a2e this earth
and .hich act0ally are this earth# :e do not /ind roses gro.ing at the &orth ole1 or glaciers
at sea level in the tropics# Everything in nat0re is /it /or and has its o.n place#
Si-ilarly1 on every one o/ the other globes o/ o0r chain1 there are bodies or vehicles1 etc#1
evolved1 inner bodies and o0ter bodies1 correspondential in each case to those globes1
belonging there1 .hich .e have -ade .hen there1 and .hich .e le/t behind .hen .e le/t
those globes# Si-ilarly1 as there is b0t one /0nda-ental r0le1 one basic la.1 to 0se the
pop0lar .ord1 thro0gho0t all the 2os-os1 .hen -an reincarnates he co-es bac2 .ith the
sa-e spirit0al individ0ality1 indeed1 he co-es bac2 .ith the sa-e higher h0-an individ0ality#
%0t he evolves /or hi-sel/ each ti-e1 and on each globe ? beca0se the race is di//erent1 the
2ar-a is di//erent1 the circ0-stances are di//erent1 since s0cceeding evol0tion has evolved
both hi- and the s0rro0nding globe still -ore ? he evolves personalities1 vehicles1 etc#1 o0t o/
hi-sel/ ane. /ro- the seeds .hich at each preceding death had passed into latency in the
character1 and th0s passes into and in/or-s ane. the globe -onadic eggs o/ vario0s sorts
/or-erly le/t behind on the di//erent globes .hen the li/e'.ave le/t the- to pass on.ards#
Those o/ yo0 .ho are 4riental classical scholars .ill readily see ho. .hat has been said1
little as it is th0s /ar1 thro.s a light .hich is really daDDling 0pon the teachings o/ the greater
ones o/ the ancient religions1 s0ch as those o/ Egypt1 and o/ Breece; pree-inently so as
regards the doctrines o/ %rah-anis- and %0ddhis- in $ndia and the Farther 4rient# &o
.onder is it that theosophy has been called the 0ni/ying philosophy o/ the .orld# $t sho.s the
.hy and the ho. o/ all these great ancient religions# $t tells 0s .hat they .ere and .hat they
-eant#
&o.1 then1 one -ay as2 onesel/ ? and this is a slight digression b0t apparently necessary ?
.hy is there so -0ch tal2 o/ seven5 seven here and seven there and seven every.here; =o
.e live in an anarchical 0niverse1 a helter's2elter 0niverse1 one .itho0t order or .ell'de/ined
shape; 4r do .e live in a 0niverse every ato- o/ .hich is in the grip o/ /orces controlled by
/orces still higher and -ore recondite and po.er/0l; 4bvio0sly the latter# ,nd these higher
/orces are in the grip and control o/ still higher ones# This si-ply -eans that there is one
consistent li/e'.ave r0nning thro0gho0t all being; and being one coherent and consistent .ill1
having one basic direction1 it -0st act on all %lane! o" the uni4er!e -ore or less in the !ae
wa&+ Aence yo0 see the need1 the necessity1 the val0e1 to 0s1 yea and the bea0ty1 o/ the
ancient teachings1 proclai-ing the /0nda-ental operation o/ nat0re1 co--only called the la.
o/ analogy1 e3pressed by the Aer-etic a3io-1 @,s above1 so belo.; as belo.1 so above#@
The pri-al 2os-ic 9ogos1 let 0s say1 has one direction in .hich its .ill po0rs /orth in /loods o/
light and li/e# Those /loods pass thro0gh their vario0s cycles and /or-ations in descending
into -atter1 and re'arising again to.ards their so0rce# %y doing so they b0t /ollo. ? and
cannot do other.ise ? the po.er/0l i-p0lses springing /ro- the central heart1 that one .ill#
:e are te-pted to 0se the .ords p0rpose1 or design1 .ere it not that these .ords are so
-is0sed in the 6hristian theological sche-es1 that it .o0ld al-ost give to listeners an idea o/
a 2os-ic personal Bod1 and that blasphe-y .e do not recogniDe# E0st here is .here enter
the operations o/ 2ar-a# <ar-a is not a la. -ade by so-ething or so-ebody# $t is the
inherent nat0re or I0ality o/ 2os-ic being to react against action 0pon it# $t is the doctrine o/
conseI0ences# <os-ically spea2ing1 it has its /lo. o/ action or /orce in a certain direction1
.hich is the .ill1 the li/e'/lo.1 o/ the 2os-ic 9ogos1 and this li/e'/lo. o/ the 9ogos1 as said
be/ore1 springing /ro- one heart1 the central heart o/ o0r solar syste-1 and th0s /or-ing the
constit0tion or /0nda-ental operation o/ 0niversal nat0re1 everything in that nat0re obeys its
direction; and hence .e have the doctrine regarding the seven1 beca0se it is b0t the
photographing1 so to say1 on o0r -inds o/ the /acts o/ the 2os-os1 the solar 9ogos being
divided into ten parts1 o/ .hich seven are -ani/est1 and three occ0lt or hid# Everything .hich
o.es its li/e to the 9ogos1 .hich is part o/ the 9ogos1 .hich is s0b>ect to the s.eep o/ its
energy1 and to its @la.1@ is there/ore by pri-al necessity li2e.ise b0ilt on a seven/old plan#
So .e can no.1 .ith these .ords o/ introd0ction1 pass on to consider the /irst aspect o/ the
doctrine o/ the spheres1 called o0r earth8s planetary chain# This1 as ill0strated in diagra- 21 is
co-posed o/ seven globes in -ani/estation1 and /ive hid5 the t.o highest o/ the lo.er seven
/or-ing the -odels /or the /ive and last belo.# The t.o ne3t globes are grosser and -ore
-aterial; the t.o /ollo.ing are o/ still grosser and -ore -aterial constit0ency; the series o/
planes ending .ith o0r earth1 .hich is the copy here belo. o/ the s0perspirit0al globe /or-ing
the last or t.el/th ? or /irst ? in o0r entire planetary chain#
Those o/ yo0 .ho 2no. yo0r classics .ill re-e-ber ho. lato spea2s o/ the /act that the
=eity geo-etriDes according to a t.elve/old plan# :hy has the Dodiac t.elve ho0ses or
signs; :hy .ere there t.elve great gods ? seven -ani/ested and /ive occ0lt ? in all the great
.orld religions o/ ancient ti-es; $n these ancient religions1 the /or-s o/ e3pression and the
.ords di//ered1 b0t the heart doctrine .as there and the sa-e in the- all; not the doctrine o/
the eye1 i#e#1 the o0t.ard things .hich .ere seen1 the cere-onial rit0al and .orship .hich
varied1 o/ten greatly1 the ones /ro- the others# That .as the e3oteric part ? not @/alse1@ b0t
0ne3plained; b0t the doctrine o/ the heart1 to 0se o0r ancient lang0age1 o0r ancient
phraseology1 -eaning the doctrine o/ that .hich is hid and not !een/ and .hich is the higher
e3pression o/ tr0th1 is hid1 not visible to the physical eye# There/ore the o0tpo0rings /ro-
-an8s nobler nat0re1 /ro- his higher so0l1 spirit0al1 bea0ti/0l1 holy1 yea and divine1 .ere
called collectively the doctrine o/ the heart also#
&o. .e said at o0r last -eeting that 7r# Sinnett and 7r# A0-e and later others had
-is0nderstood and -isinterpreted the 7asters8 teachings .ith regard to the globes .hich
co-pose o0r o.n planetary chain; and .e re/erred then to the /irst vol0-e o/ The Secret
Doctrine/ and A# # %lavats2y8s 2indly b0t nevertheless -erci/0lly ca0stic criticis-s o/ 7r#
Sinnett8s idea that his -erely scienti/ically trained -ind 2ne. the secrets o/ nat0re really
better than his Teacher did1 or than did A# # %lavats2y1 his second teacher; and on pages
1C3'* o/ this vol0-e1 yo0 .ill /ind .hat she says on the -atter# $n the /irst place1 she says
that in ans.er to 7r# Sinnett8s I0ery the Teacher gave a reply .hich .as -ore or less vag0e#
This .as beca0se the I0estion .as very vag0e# 7r# Sinnett never see-ed to realiDe that he
.as as2ing I0estions1 in certain cases1 .hich si-ply co0ld not be ans.ered by anyone
pledged to secrecy# :hat then .as to be done; The Teacher had o//ered hi-sel/ to teach#
The ti-e had co-e to teach the .orld so-e.hat o/ the ancient .isdo-; a /e. seeds .ere to
be so.n in the .orld8s tho0ght'li/e# Net the ans.er had to be given in a vag0e .ay# Aad 7r#
Sinnett I0estioned .ith per/ect de/initeness1 on de/inite s0b>ects o/ .hich he hi-sel/ had a
de/inite 2no.ledge1 he .o0ld do0btless have received a de/inite ans.er1 or .o0ld have been
told that his I0estion co0ld not be ans.ered /or the reasons already set /orth# This re/0sal to
ans.er1 indeed1 happened several ti-es# Ais I0estion in this connection .as1 as read at o0r
last -eeting5 @:hat other planets o/ those 2no.n to ordinary science1 besides 7erc0ry1
belong to o0r syste- o/ .orlds;@ :e have seen that in occ0ltis- @o0r syste- o/ .orlds@ can
re/er to at least /o0r di//erent things5 o0r 0niversal solar syste-; o0r planetary chain; o0r
gro0p o/ seven sacred planets; and this -ystery'gro0p ? Earth1 7erc0ry1 7ars1 and /o0r
other secret planets#
:ell1 the ans.er ca-e bac2 generaliDed5 @7ars and /o0r other planets o/ .hich astrono-y
2no.s yet nothing1@ re/erring -ost partic0larly to the -ystery'gro0p# ,nd .hy; %eca0se 7r#
Sinnett had >0st previo0sly been I0estioning his in/or-ant on a certain aspect o/ the
teachings .hich co0ld not be /0lly e3plained .itho0t giving o0t the doctrine concerning this
-ystery'gro0p# That is all there .as to that# ,nd A# # %lavats2y says here5 @,s to 7ars1
7erc0ry1 and 8the /o0r other planets18 they bear a relation to Earth o/ .hich no -aster or high
4cc0ltist .ill ever spea21 -0ch less e3plain the nat0re#@
4bvio0sly1 this sentence does not re/er to o0r planetary chain1 beca0se A# # %lavats2y had
already said that 7ars and 7erc0ry do not belong to it# Evidently1 she is re/erring to so-e
other gro0p# She also .rote as /ollo.s5 @For the reply .as5 87ars1 etc# Las a -atter o/ /act the
Teacher8s ans.er did not contain the .ord etc#M1 and /o0r other planets o/ .hich astrono-y
2no.s nothing#@ The Teacher8s ans.er contained the .ord &et1 @yet nothing#@ @&either ,1 %1
nor N1 H1 are 2no.n; nor can they be seen thro0gh physical -eans ho.ever per/ected#@
Then A# # %lavats2y contin0es5 @This is plain5 !a" ,strono-y as yet 2no.s nothing in reality
o/ the planets1 neither the ancient ones1 nor those discovered in -odern ti-es#@ 4bvio0sly1
she is -erely spea2ing o/ visible planets; /or -odern astrono-y did not then ad-it the
e3istence o/ other planets on other planes o/ the solar syste-1 and does not ad-it the-
today# @!b" &o co-panion planets /ro- , to H1 i+e+1 no 0pper globes o/ any chain in the Solar
Syste-1 can be seen#@ =isproving again .hat 7r# Sinnett tho0ght# %0t also -ar2 yo0 this5 the
Teacher in his ans.er to 7r# Sinnett did not say @co-panion planets /ro- , to H1@ as A# #
%lavats2y here .rites# Ae said @&either ,1 %1 nor N1 H1@ speci/ying "our planets1 t.o in the
beginning1 and t.o at the end o/ the -ystery'gro0p# No0 see1 then1 that there is -0ch behind
all this1 -0ch that does not appear on the s0r/ace# A# # %lavats2y in her t0rn .as /aced .ith
precisely the sa-e sit0ation as the 7aster .as# She co0ld not tell the .hole tr0th1 beca0se
pledged to secrecy; yet she had to give so-e ans.er; and she did .hat Teachers /ro-
i--e-orial ti-e have done in si-ilar cases# They gave an ans.er1 .hich .as per/ectly tr0e1
as /ar as they co0ld go1 b0t they deliberately1 in vie. o/ the interloc2ing o/ the nat0re o/ the
2os-os and also there/ore o/ o0r teachings1 allo.ed a hint o/ so-ething else to co-e in at
the sa-e ti-e1 .hich served a do0ble p0rpose5 /or it .as a @blind1@ and yet .as absol0tely
responsive and tr0th/0l1 a! "ar a! it went#
Then on page 1C7 DThe Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $" A# # %lavats2y I0otes /ro- the Teacher8s
.ords again5 >E<et u! iagine TA,T 4UR E,RTA $S 4&E 4F , BR4U 4F SEFE&
9,&ETS 4R 7,&'%E,R$&B :4R9=S# # # #8@ Then in parenthesis1 and this parenthesis is
A# # %lavats2y8s5 @!The SEFE& %lanet! are the !acred %lanet! o" antiHuit&/ and are all
!e%tenar&+B#@ Aere still another1 a third1 aspect o/ the doctrine o/ the spheres is all0ded to#
This is a per/ect ill0stration o/ ho. s0ch a sit0ation has to be /aced#
,s still another e3a-ple o/ the policy o/ secrecy .e -ention1 in another place in The Secret
Doctrine yo0 .ill /ind A# # %lavats2y8s state-ent that o0r Earth does not belong to the seven
sacred planets o/ the ancients1 and here she says that it does1 and the t.o state-ents are
apparently contradictory# $t is a parado31 b0t it is not contradictory# ,nd /ort0nately this
parado3 is easy o/ e3planation# The seven sacred planets o/ the ancients1 as planets o/ the
solar syste-1 are those -entioned in the beginning o/ o0r st0dy tonight1 i#e#1 Sat0rn1 E0piter1
7ars1 S0n !a s0bstit0te"1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 and 7oon as a s0bstit0te# 40r Earth is not
incl0ded1 as yo0 see# %0t as .e also pointed o0t tonight1 each one o/ the globes o/ o0r
planetary chain is the child o/1 in a sense b0ilt by1 controlled by1 and g0ided by one o/ these
seven sacred planets1 that is to say1 by the respective geni0s or rector o/ each o/ the seven
sacred planets# Aence1 the seven globes o/ o0r planetary chain .ere li2e.ise /reI0ently
called the seven sacred planets by the ancients1 beca0se those seven globes .ere b0ilded
by their cooperative instr0-entality1 and are 0nder their g0idance# The globes .ere b0ilded
by the seven sacred planets1 %lu!1 as be/ore re-ar2ed1 the action o/ the ind.elling
s.abhavic li/e o/ o0r o.n planetary chain#
40r ti-e is dra.ing very near to an end /or this evening1 b0t .e .ish to call attention to t.o
/acts only be/ore closing# First1 the seven globes o/ o0r planetary chain are not the seven
principles o/ the earth# The analogy is good and very stri2ing; yet these seven globes o/ o0r
planetary chain are1 each one1 a distinct and separate entity; each one o/ the seven1 o0r
earth incl0ded1 has its o.n seven principles# Net the other si3 globes o/ o0r chain are not the
other si3 principles o/ o0r earth# The idea is grotesI0e# $t is as -0ch as to say that seven
-en1 seven chelas o/ the 7asters1 a gro0p o/ seven chelas1 are the seven principles each o/
each# &ot at all# The seven globes /or- a single gro0p1 b0t each one is a separate entity and
has its o.n seven principles#
The second thing is this1 that these so'called planes1 these seven planes1 sho0ld really and
tr0ly be called world!+ $t is very di//ic0lt to /ind a proper .ord to describe this /act# These
planes1 or rather .orlds1 collectively are the lo2as and talas5 seven lo2as and seven talas1
corresponding one to the other1 each to each#
This bipolarity o/ lo2a and tala1 repeated seven ti-es on seven decreasing degrees o/
-ateriality co0nting 0p.ards1 or increasing degrees o/ -ateriality co0nting do.n.ards1 are
the seven planes or rather .orlds o/ the solar syste- -acrocos-ically; the seven planes or
.orlds o/ o0r planetary chain are the lo2as and talas -icrocos-ically# These lo2as and talas1
then1 are .orlds# 9oo2 at the .orld aro0nd 0s5 the stars above 0s1 the earth beneath o0r /eet1
the .inds blo.ing ? in short1 all the .orld .e see and /eel and 2no.# $t is one o/ the lo2as
and one o/ the talas con>ointly# ,nd these lo2as and talas correspond one to the other1 each
to each1 e3actly as in the case o/ the bipolarity o/ -agnetis- or o/ electricity on o0r plane#
F0nda-entally they are one1 b0t they -ani/est in bipolar character# That partic0lar /orce or
vital c0rrent .hose tendency is do.n.ards1 /or-s that aspect o/ the 0nion .hich is called the
tala o/ any .orld# ,nd the other1 .hose aspect is 0p.ards or1 technically spea2ing1 north1
/or-s the lo2a#
,t o0r ne3t st0dy .e shall begin a rather detailed investigation o/ o0r planetary chain1 having
no. covered the vario0s o0tlying /ields o/ that .hich it .as necessary brie/ly to s0rvey be/ore
.e co0ld adeI0ately 0nderstand the teachings regarding the earth8s planetary chain#
hapter Forty-Three
,nalogy5 the 9i/e o/ 7an and the 9i/e o/ a lanetary 6hain# 4cc0ltis- and
Ethics5 9ive the 9i/e $/ Tho0 :o0ldst <no. the =octrine#@
,nalogy is th0s the s0rest g0ide to the co-prehension o/ the 4cc0lt teachings# # # #
Everything in the Universe /ollo.s analogy# @,s above1 so belo.@; 7an is the -icrocos-
o/ the Universe# That .hich ta2es place on the spirit0al plane repeats itsel/ on the 6os-ic
plane# 6oncretion /ollo.s the lines o/ abstraction; corresponding to the highest -0st be
the lo.est; the -aterial to the spirit0al# ? The Secret Doctrine/$1 1731 177
,s yo0 -ay in/er by analogy every globe be/ore it reaches its ad0lt period1 has to pass
thro0gh a /or-ation period ? also septenary# 9a. in &at0re is 0ni/or- and the conception1
/or-ation1 birth1 progress and develop-ent o/ the child di//ers /ro- those o/ the globe only
in -agnit0de# The globe has t.o periods o/ teething and o/ capillat0re ? its /irst roc2s
.hich it also sheds to -a2e roo- /or ne. ? and its /erns and -osses be/ore it gets /orest#
,s the ato-s in the body change LeveryM seven years so does the globe rene. its strata
every seven cycles# # # #
# # # The correspondence bet.een a -other'globe and her child'-an -ay be th0s .or2ed
o0t# %oth have their seven principles# $n the Blobe1 the ele-entals !o/ .hich there are in
all seven species" /or- !a" a gross body1 !b" her /l0idic do0ble !linga sarira-"1 !c" her li/e
principle !>iva"; !d" her /o0rth principle 2a-a r0pa is /or-ed by her creative i-p0lse
.or2ing /ro- centre to circ0-/erence; !e" her /i/th principle !ani-al so0l
or Mana!/ physical intelligence" is e-bodied in the vegetable !in ger-" and ani-al
2ingdo-s; !/" her si3th principle !or spirit0al so0l1 %0ddhi" is -an !g" and her seventh
principle !at-a" is in a /il- o/ spirit0aliDed a2asa that s0rro0nds her# ? The Mahata
<etter!/ pp# 931 9*
Those alone1 .ho- .e call adepts1 .ho 2no. ho. to direct their -ental vision and to
trans/er their conscio0sness ? physical and psychic both ? to other planes o/ being1 are
able to spea2 .ith a0thority on s0ch s0b>ects# ,nd they tell 0s plainly5 ?
><ead the li"e nece!!ar& "or the acHui!ition o" !uch 2nowledge and %ower!/ and 7i!do
will coe to &ou naturall&+ 7hene4er &ou are a6le to attune &our con!ciou!ne!! to an& o"
the !e4en chord! o" E3ni4er!al *on!ciou!ne!!/E tho!e chord! that run along the !ounding1
6oard o" Ko!o!/ 4i6rating "ro one #ternit& to another8 when &ou ha4e !tudied
thoroughl& Ethe u!ic o" the S%here!/E then onl& will &ou 6ecoe Huite "ree to !hare &our
2nowledge with tho!e with who it i! !a"e to do !o# # # # @ ? The Secret Doctrine1 $1 1CC'7
TAESE teachings -ay see- recondite .hen /irst heard1 and so indeed they are# %0t1 li2e all
o0r theosophical teachings1 there is one aspect o/ the- .hich is very si-ple and contains the
principal idea o/ each tho0ghts1 i#e#1 o/ each doctrine; and it is1 in each and every case1 this
-ain or principal idea .hich .e ill0strate1 it re-aining /or yo0rselves to /ill in the details1 and
to prove by yo0r o.n st0dies the theore-s advanced#
%0t -ay it not be a good thing to point o0t that one o/ the noblest res0lts o/ these st0dies is
the e//ect it has on the -oral nat0re o/ -an1 o/ the st0dent; No0 -ay tell a -an to @be good
beca0se it is good to be good1@ as re-ar2ed once be/ore; and this state-ent is per/ectly
correct and probably no one .ill ob>ect to it1 yet it .ill not go very deep into the hearer8s
conscio0sness and -ind# %0t i/ yo0 tell a -an that he is1 in essence1 an incarnate god1 an
incarnate divinity in his essence1 and that he has co-e do.n into these spheres o/ -atter /or
p0rposes o/ 0niversal .or21 and that he is /ailing in his d0ty1 he is /ailing in his relationship to
his o.n higher sel/1 i/ that d0ty be not acco-plished1 then yo0 p0t a tho0ght into that -an8s
-ind .hich allo.s hi- to thin21 and -a2es hi- thin21 and gives hi- a basis /or -orals1 a
religio0s and philosophical basis1 .hich i/ he has any good in hi- at all1 he hi-sel/ .ill /ollo.
0p to the end#
$t is abs0rd to thin2 that any one o/ o0r theosophical doctrines can be divorced /ro- its ethical
aspect# They cannot be separated so; and this1 perhaps1 is the distinction -ost easily
0nderstood bet.een the archaic teachings and those o/ the vario0s so'called c0lts or
c0lt0ses or I0asi'religions .hich spring 0p li2e -0shroo-s /ro- age to age and /ro- ti-e to
ti-e1 and have a longer or shorter li/e1 depending on circ0-stances1 ca0sing -ean.hile
-ore or less deplorable spirit0al in>0ry to the 0n/ort0nate people .ho hear o/ the- and /ollo.
the- in con/idence and -isplaced tr0st#
So /ar as this I0estion o/ ethics as connected .ith o0r teachings is concerned1 pray
re-e-ber that yo0 cannot 0nderstand the- adeI0ately 0nless yo0 @live the li/e@ that they
inc0lcate# 40r Teachers have told 0s so1 plainly5 @9ive the li/e as it o0ght to be lived1 and
2no.ledge .ill co-e to yo0 nat0rally#@ There is only one tr0th in nat0re1 and 0nderstanding o/
it co-es nat0rally to hi- or her .ho @obeys the la.#@ Real 2no.ledge brings -odesty and
co-passion and -agnani-ity and co0rage in its train1 and all the /ine1 old1 noble virt0es; and
those virt0es are the insignia .hich -ar2 the real disciple ? not /oolish clai-s .hich1 in direct
proportion as the clai-s are /alse1 are the -ore /oolishly pretentio0s# The greater the clai-s1
the less tr0th is there behind the-#
:ith regard to these doctrines being so di//ic0lt5 they are very di//ic0lt1 not -erely in their
el0cidation1 .hich .e are atte-pting1 b0t also beca0se they are so inti-ately inter.oven
together# Net this very /act contains the cl0e1 the ,riadne8s thread1 leading to their sol0tion#
The very /act that1 >0st as the /orces and principles and planes o/ nat0re are so interloc2ed
and are so inti-ately bo0nd together that i" &ou reall& 2now one &ou 2now ore or le!! o"
all/ >0st so is it .ith these doctrines# $/ yo0 really 2no. one .ith so-e /air degree o/ co-plete
2no.ledge ? so-e /air degree1 $ say ? yo0 have a -ore or less per/ect 2ey that .ill /it the
loc2s o/ all#
$ndeed1 analogy is the /0nda-ental la. or1 i/ yo0 li2e1 the /0nda-ental operation1 o/ o0r
processes o/ thin2ing1 derived /ro- nat0re beca0se .e are the children o/ nat0re; /or >0st as
the highest is re/lected in the lo.est1 so is the .or2ing o/ the h0-an -ind# $/ yo0 /ollo. the
.or2ings o/ nat0re as ta0ght in occ0ltis-1 yo0 .ill /ind that the lo.est is b0t the
e3e-pli/ication or copy o/ .hat is above#
These teachings1 .hich .e have been st0dying together here1 yo0 .ill yo0rselves /ind in the
pages o/ The Secret Doctrine+ Search1 and yo0 .ill /ind the-# Net it -ay ta2e yo0 years to
/ind the-# %0t that is no real reason /or disco0rage-ent# :hy1 in the old ti-es1 in $ndia /or
e3a-ple1 the p0pil had to pass ten or t.elve years in the st0dy o/ the sacred Sans2rit
lang0age alone be/ore he .as even allo.ed to read the script0res .ritten in that noble
tong0e; t.elve -ore years .ere then passed in st0dy o/ the script0res be/ore he .as allo.ed
even to spea2 o/1 or to give an opinion 0pon the-# T.enty'/o0r years o/ daily st0dy1 /ro-
eight to t.elve ho0rs a day1 so sacred .ere these ancient teachings then held to beK &o one
-ay e3pect or need thin2 that he or she can have any co-prehension o/ o0r teachings
.itho0t so-e honest e//ort on his or her o.n part1 to st0dy the-1 to 0nderstand the- and1
above everything else1 to thin2 abo0t the-1 to re/lect on the-# That is the greatest help o/ all1
to re"lect/ to ponder the- in the -ind1 to brood over the-#
&o.1 at o0r last st0dy .e passed in brie/ general revie. the doctrines concerning the birth1
b0ilding1 gro.th1 -at0rity1 decline1 and /inal death1 o/ o0r planetary chain# This short general
revie. .as -ade in order that the -any and vario0s state-ents -ade in The Secret
Doctrine/ here and there1 and dealing .ith all these /o0r aspects o/ the general doctrine o/ the
spheres1 sho0ld be separated in o0r -inds# &o one can give o0t any s0ch recondite doctrine
in its /0llness1 in easy lang0age# These doctrines closely interloc2; and the -ore esoteric part
is al.ays deliberately hid 0nder the sa-e .ords .hich set /orth the e3oteric presentation#
The /or-er -0st be pic2ed o0t and st0died; the int0ition -0st be developed; the intellect
polished; and1 above everything else1 the spirit0al nat0re -0st be appealed to and aspired to#
This process o/ st0dy is not so di//ic0lt as it so0nds1 /or these higher /ac0lties are innate in 0s#
The spirit0al nat0re is the real -an# The constant appeals to 0s by o0r Teachers to loo2
in.ards and to loo2 0p.ards are not -eaningless; they have a -ost pro/o0nd practical val0e
/or the serio0s st0dent#
:e open1 then1 o0r st0dy tonight by reading /ro- the /irst vol0-e o/ The Secret Doctrine as
/ollo.s1 on pages 1(+'95
Everything in the -etaphysical as in the physical Universe is septenary# Aence every
sidereal body1 every planet1 .hether visible or invisible1 is credited .ith si3 co-panion
globes# # # # The evol0tion o/ li/e proceeds on these seven globes or bodies /ro- the 1st to
the 7th in Seven R4U&=S or Seven 6ycles#
That is1 the li/e'.ave circles aro0nd the seven globes in seven di//erent co0rses1 each co0rse
/ro- globe one to globe the last being called a ro0nd# %0t let 0s not con/0se a general or
chain'ro0nd /ro- globe , to globe B or the last1 .ith a globe'ro0nd1 .hich -erely -eans the
passing thro0gh or traversing o/ any one o/ these seven globes by the li/e'.aves# This latter
is a globe'ro0nd# F0rther-ore1 these ro0nds1 circling1 revolving1 /ro- globe , to globe B1 in
any one planetary chain ? o0rs /or instance ? is called an inner ro0nd# The o0ter ro0nds1 as
pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting1 re/er to the seven sacred planets; and these o0ter ro0nds .e
shall not to0ch 0pon e3cept very incidentally# %0t it o0ght to be pointed o0t that these seven
sacred planets act0ally b0ild and govern and oversee1 each to each/ all the seven globes o/
o0r earth8s chain# :hat are the correspondences here; 9et 0s point the- o0t# :e dra. a
diagra- o/ the t.elve globes o/ o0r earth8s planetary chain once -ore5
%eginning .ith the seven globes on o0r ani"e!ted planetary chain1 belo. the line .hich .e
have dra.n in order to separate the- /ro- the /ive .hich are hid1 .e .ill call the /irst globe
,1 the ne3t globe %1 the ne3t 61 the ne3t =1 .hich is o0r earth# The one above 0s on the
ascending arc is E1 the ne3t one above it is F1 and the last one o/ the seven .e shall -ar2 as
B# There are1 /0rther-ore1 as sho.n in this diagra-1 /ive hid globes on the three higher
planes o/ the solar 2os-os1 the 0niversal solar syste-1 .hich globes .e -erely -ention in
passing#
&o. the sacred planet .hich b0ilds and /or-s globe ,1 s0b>ect o/ co0rse to the s.abhava o/
globe , ? that is to say1 its o.n ind.elling geni0s or .ill or spirit1 its o.n individ0ality1 >0st as
a gro.ing child is shaped -ore or less by its environ-ent1 b0t nevertheless has its o.n
gro.ing individ0ality and personality ? the sacred planet1 $ say1 that b0ilds globe , is the S0n1
or rather that planet /or .hich the S0n is an en0-erative s0bstit0te1 and .hich .e .ill call
F0lcan# The sacred planet .hich b0ilds the second globe1 %1 is E0piter# The sacred planet
.hich b0ilds globe 61 the one preceding o0rs on the do.n.ard arc1 and /ro- .hich .e ca-e
d0ring this ro0nd be/ore .e entered the earth'globe1 is Fen0s# The sacred planet b0ilding o0r
o.n Earth is Sat0rn# The one b0ilding globe E1 to .hich .e shall go .hen .e leave globe =1
o0r Earth1 is 7erc0ry# The one b0ilding globe F is 7ars; and the one b0ilding globe B1 or the
last1 is the 7oon1 or rather the planet /or .hich the 7oon is an e3oteric en0-erative
s0bstit0te#
&ote .ell1 ho.ever1 that in all cases .e -ean the spirit0al geni0s or rector !not the physical
planet" .hich is the b0ilder1 the /or-er1 the overseer1 o/ any respective globe o/ o0r earth8s
chain#
lease 0nderstand1 then1 that these genii or rectors1 these sacred planets act0ally are the
2os-o2ratores o/ o0r planetary chain1 the .orld b0ilders1%lu! the s.abhavic i-p0lses
e-anating /ro- the planetary chain itsel/5 as1 /or instance1 a child is born on earth; it has its
o.n ind.elling vitality1 its o.n personality1 its o.n individ0ality1 its o.n inner p0sh and 0rge
to li/e and e3perience; b0t it is born into an environ-ent1 into conditions1 .hich -old it in a
very large degree1 and .hich si-ilarly in large degree direct the .ay and -anner in .hich its
body and higher principles are b0ilded and .or2 and /0nction#
:e -erely all0de here once -ore to .hat .as said1 $ thin2 at o0r last -eeting1 that .hen the
last o/ the seven ro0nds o/ o0r earth8s planetary chain is /0lly co-pleted1 the li/e'.aves pass
on to one o/ the o0ter ro0nds# &o. yo0 2no. that the -oon .hich .e see in o0r evening
s2ies is b0t the relic1 the 2a-a'r0pa1 o/ a /or-er planet .hich lived and co-pleted its li/e
cycle be/ore o0r earth e3isted1 and .hich .as as /0ll o/ li/e and the hosts o/ lives as o0r earth
is no.# $t also ran the co0rse o/ its seven ro0nds1 along seven l0nar globes1 and .hen its
septenary li/e cycle .as co-pleted1 .hen its seventh ro0nd .as co-pleted1 .hat then
happened; Each globe1 as the li/e'.ave le/t it a/ter co-pleting the last globe'ro0nd o/ the
seventh chain'ro0nd1 passed into invisibility a/ter it had cast /orth its energies1 a large part o/
its li/e'ato-s1 into a laya'center in space#
9et 0s ta2e these seven globes1 as sho.n in the diagra-1 .hich represent the chain o/ o0r
earth1 and i-agine the-1 i/ yo0 please1 to be the seven globes o/ o0r -oon d0ring its last
ro0nd1 .e -ean the seventh or last -oon'ro0nd# :hen the globe'ro0nd on , is co-pleted1
or rather nearly co-pleted1 the ten classes o/ li/e'entities prepare to leave it# The class .hich
is -ost advanced pro>ects its energy into space1 into another point o/ the solar syste-1 into
.hat is called a laya'center1 .hich is a Sans2rit .ord -eaning a ho-ogeneo0s center1 a
center o/ ho-ogeneo0s s0bstance1 on a spirit0al plane o/ co0rse1 0sing the .ord @spirit0al@ in
a general sense# ,nd this process goes on1 /or all the ten classes o/ that globe ,1 each one
o/ these ten /a-ilies or stoc2s leaving the globe one by one1 0ntil1 .hen the ti-e has co-e
/or the last ani-alc0le o/ the last stoc2 to leave the globe1 that globe then s0ddenly
disappears ? and is in a6!condito/ invisible# ,nd .hy; The reason is this5 all -atter1 as o0r
scientists today are beginning to realiDe1 is b0t another /or- o/ 2os-ic /orce1 /or /orce and
-atter are one# ,ll -atter is b0ilt 0p o/ ato-s; these ato-s in t0rn are b0ilt 0p o/ electrons
and protons; and these in their t0rn are b0t tiny s0bstantial entities1 6uilt u% o" energic atter
or "orce ? /orce and -atter being "undaentall& one1 as spirit and s0bstance are
/0nda-entally one#
Aence1 .hen the li/e'ato-s1 .hen the li/e1 so to say1 leaves the globe1 it vanishes1 beca0se
those li/e'ato-s are its 0lti-ate particles# The globe is not annihilated1 b0t it passes into the
state .hich is called in a6!condito/or invisibility# This is perhaps the -ost di//ic0lt point o/ all
others in o0r st0dy to e3plain1 beca0se there is nothing 2no.n to 0s at present on earth that
.e can point to as being analogo0s to it# ,t any rate1 s0ch is the /act; and1 as $ have tried to
point o0t1 .hen the li/e leaves an ato-1 its s0b'ato-s1 so to spea21 are not annihilated1 b0t1
as it .ere1 they separate and they beco-e invisible1 and the portions o/ the 0ndeveloped
s0bstance .hich re-ain behind pass into latency1 into dor-ancy1 -0ch li2e ice crystals
hanging in space; pass into latency as tiny glob0les o/ /orce'-atter1 and re-ain in that state
0ntil the attraction to activity later co-es ? .hich is another s0b>ect that .e shall have to go
into so-e day ? to >oin the ne. earth'globe ,1 the li/e'ato- ret0rning1 a/ter aeons o/
.andering trans-igration1 to its o.n li/e'so0rce#
Si-ilarly .ith globe % o/ the -oon'chain1 the sa-e process ta2es place1 and it vanishes# ,nd
so .ith all the seven globes# Ao. is it then1 it -ay be as2ed1 i/ globe = o/ the -oon'chain
vanished1 that .e see o0r present -oon; :e have be/ore pointed o0t that o0r -oon is a
phanto-1 a 2a-a'r0pa1 o/ the -oon8s globe = that .as1 b0t .e o/ earth happen to be on the
plane o/ .hat .as the astral to the 90narians# :e have gone 0p a step1 and .e see .ith o0r
physical eyes .hat .o0ld have been invisible to 0s .hen .e lived on the -oon# ,s a -an
.hen departing this li/e leaves his 2a-a'r0pa in the astral real-s behind hi-1 the shade1 as
the ancients p0t it1 his spoo21 0ntil it disintegrates ? i/ haply that be the -an8s /ort0nate
destiny ? so does it happen .ith the globes; beca0se these globes are living things# 6an li/e
co-e /ro- anything b0t li/e; 6lear yo0r -inds o/ the idea that there is any dead -atter# :ipe
o0t all that old scienti/ic trash o/ /i/ty or one h0ndred years ago# There is nothing in it# ,lready
it is ancient and /orgotten# The scientists no. have ne. theories# Fi/ty years ago there .as
nothing b0t -atter# The /orces .ere only @-odes o/ -otion#@ Forces per se did not e3ist; nor
did anybody 2no. ho. s0ch @-odes o/ -otion@ arose o0t o/ dead -atter# &o.1 ho.ever1
they are beginning to tell 0s that there is no -atter1 that there is nothing b0t /orce; and that
.hat .e call the -odes o/ -atter are -erely I0anta o/ /orce or energy1 certain /or-s or
/0nctions o/ .hat these very -etaphysical scientists call energy or /orce or .hatnot#
Th0s1 these vario0s globes o/ the -oon'chain cast their li/e's0bstance each into a laya'
center; these seven laya'centers /or-ing as it .ere the planes o/ rest o/ these @sleeping
spheres#@ There is -ore behind this .hich .e cannot no. go into; b0t it .o0ld be dishonest
to pass over this point .itho0t calling to yo0r attention one /act1 that the higher nat0re o/ a
globe1 as o/ a -an its child1 is deathless1 and tastes never o/ death ? d0ring the solar
-anvantara1 at least ? sleeps not d0ring these inter-ediate ti-es o/ planetary rest1 b0t is in
nirvana1 /or so-e period o/ ti-e1 at least# lease -ar2 those .ords#
,/ter long aeons o/ ti-e1 these sleeping spheres rea.a2en /or another period o/
-ani/estation1 in principle e3actly as a -an ret0rns to earth incarnation# The thrill o/ active or
to'be'-ani/ested li/e no. r0ns thro0gh these seven laya'centers1 and they begin to
di//erentiate# =o yo0 2no. that the secrets regarding death and h0-an incarnation are bo0nd
0p in this s0b>ect o/ the planetary spheres1 the planetary chain1 and also in that -arvelo0s1
.onder/0l doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os;
:hat do the 6hristians -ean ? .e -a2e a slight digression .hich see-s necessary and
interesting as .ell ? .hen they spea2 o/ the res0rrection o/ the bodies o/ the dead; ,
l0dicro0s doctrine this1 i/ ta2en at its /ace val0e as ta0ght by the old'style theology# 70ch
.ell'-erited criticis- by independent thin2ers has been directed against this 6hristian dog-a
? .ell'-erited criticis-1 .e said; b0t nevertheless in its pagan origin it .as one o/ the old
7ystery'teachings# Aere is a part1 at least1 o/ the secret o/ it# The li/e'ato-s .hich /or- a
-an8s body1 .hich /or- a -an8s astral body1 .hich /or- a -an8s psychic nat0re1 .hich /or-
a -an8s -ental and spirit0al nat0re1 are his o//spring1 the o//'thro.ings o/ the -an in li/e .ho
no. physically is .hat .e call @dead#@ They are /ar -ore @bone o/ his bone and /lesh o/ his
/lesh1@ inco-parably -ore so1 than is the son o/ his parents1 beca0se the& are hi!el"/ hi!
own di!!i%ated li"e1ato!/ and they .ill ret0rn to hi- as inevitably and as in/allibly as the
stro2es o/ 2ar-a /or good or ill /all 0pon a -an .ho has originated the-1 .ho has acted 0pon
nat0re1 .hich a0to-atically reacts1 rebo0nds1 against the action# These li/e'ato-s co-e bac2
to hi- in the s0cceeding li/e1 .hen the attraction p0lls the-1 .hen the gravitational p0ll
co-es /ro- the entity descending again thro0gh the vario0s planes o/ s0bstance into
reincarnation# Each plane that he passes thro0gh a/ter death in going o0t1 in going 0p1 is
again traversed in co-ing do.n into reincarnation; and these li/e'ato-s /lo. to hi- by
gravitational attraction1 by -agnetic p0ll1 and /or- ane. his vario0s vehicles on the vario0s
planes o/ his being# They are the li/e'ato-s .hose @/aces he once dirtied1@ perhaps1 and
.hich he no. again -0st .ash; or1 again1 those .hich he had helped on their 0p.ard .ay#
%eca0se1 verily1 these li/e'ato-s are the-selves ger-'so0ls in their essence1 even as .e
-en in o0r higher nat0res are children o/ the Aighest ? o/ the 9ogos1 .hose very essence is
in 0s1 i! we our!el4e!K These li/e'ato-s also1 even as .e o0rselves1 are b0ilding /or an
i--ortal destiny; and this is a really /ine ill0stration o/ the interloc2ing o/ the hosts o/ lives o/
0niversal being#
Thin2 o/ the -ystery1 o/ the .onder1 behind this bea0ti/0l /act# $n that .ay1 also1 are the
.orlds b0ilded# This1 then1 is the secret -eaning o/ the 6hristian doctrine o/ the res0rrection
o/ the body1 an old 7ystery'teaching ignorantly adopted ? not the old body .hich 7r# %ro.n
or 7r# Eones or 7r# S-ith had1 /or that is gone /orever; b0t the li/e'ato-s .hich b0ilded that
/or-er body1 and act0ally were it1 collect ane. to /or- the ne. body o/ the reincarnating
-an# ,s they .ere his be/ore1 so no. they co-e bac2 and b0ild hi- a body -ore or less
closely li2e to the one he had le/t at death in the /or-er li/e# 6an yo0 escape the action o/ the
la.; Thin2 o/ the -oral vie.points that this action o/ 2ar-a brings to o0r eyes# Thin2 o/ the
responsibility1 -oral and physical and -ental and spirit0al1 that is o0rs# :e s0//er /ro- o0r
o.n acts1 and .e have >oy /ro- o0r o.n acts; and these little beings1 these e-bryonic so0ls1
these li/e'ato-s1 b0ild the bodies o/ the vehicles .hich once again .e live in# 7an1 each one
o/ 0s1 in /0t0re aeons o/ ti-e1 a/ter ages 0pon ages in the /0t0re1 is destined to be a 9ogos;
and the beings then in his care and charge1 his o.n li/e'ato-s then -ore or less @gro.n'0p1@
.ill be the archangels1 the angels1 the pra>apatis1 the -an0s1 the h0-an so0ls1 and all the
vario0s s-aller entities1 less entities s0ch as .e no. 2no. o/ beneath 0s# The 9ogos that is
no. o0r o.n Aighest1 o0r o.n @Father in Aeaven1@ .as1 aeons 0pon aeons 0pon aeons
agone1 a -an also1 o/ .ho- o0r present hosts o/ beings .ere then the li/e'ato-s1 -arching
0p.ards and on.ards# 6an yo0 i-agine and see1 no.1 .hy these doctrines have al.ays
been 2ept so secret and sacred; S0ppose that they .ere s0b>ect to -is0nderstanding1 and
-isrepresented in cheap advertise-ent1 dropped in the -ire1 @cast be/ore the s.ine1@ as the
Syrian Teacher saidK
%0t there is danger in all this# There is al.ays a danger in saying -ore than sho0ld be said
abo0t these esoteric and holy doctrines# :e have not said -ore than sho0ld be said; .e are
-erely el0cidating and e3plaining .hat has been said by hint and all0sion in The Secret
Doctrine by A# # %lavats2y# $n /0t0re years .e -ay go deeper into these things; b0t s0rely
eno0gh has been said tonight to sho. the analogy bet.een and the -0ch that -ight be said
abo0t the li/e o/ -an and that o/ a planetary chain#
hapter Forty-Four
rinciples o/ Tho0ght and St0dy5 6an 4cc0ltis- %e Ta0ght; ,ncient ,strology
a Tr0e Science# 40r Earth'6hain o/ Blobes1 the Seven Sacred lanets1
and the T.elve Hodiacal Signs# 9i/e',to-s5 the %0ilding %loc2s o/ the
Universe#
,strology is a science a! in"alli6le as astrono-y itsel/1 .ith the condition1 ho.ever1 that its
interpreters -0st be eI0ally in/allible; and it is this condition1 !ine Hua non1 so very di//ic0lt
o/ realiDation1 that has al.ays proved a st0-bling'bloc2 to both# ,strology is to e3act
astrono-y .hat psychology is to e3act physiology# $n astrology and psychology one has
to step beyond the visible .orld o/ -atter1 and enter into the do-ain o/ transcendent
spirit# ? 0!i! 3n4eiled/ $1 2(9
The signs o/ the Hodiac have -ore than one -eaning# Fro- one point o/ vie. they
represent the di//erent stages o/ evol0tion 0p to the ti-e the present -aterial 0niverse
.ith the /ive ele-ents ca-e into pheno-enal e3istence# ,s the a0thor o/ 0!i!
3n4eiled has stated in the second vol0-e o/ her ad-irable .or21 @the 2ey sho0ld be
t0rned !e4en tie!> to 0nderstand the .hole philosophy 0nderlying these signs# ? T#
S0bba Ro.1 @The T.elve Signs o/ the Hodiac@
$T $S ,& EBREB$4US /olly to s0ppose that occ0ltis- can be ta0ght in lessons as one .o0ld
teach a lang0age or a science1 and the I0estion arises5 Ao.1 then1 since these -eetings are
/or the p0rpose o/ st0dying together so-e o/ the noble doctrines o/ occ0ltis-1 ho. is it that
they -ight see- to be ta0ght in that -anner1 by lessons in co0rses; The di//erence is this5
.hile occ0ltis- cannot be ta0ght as one .o0ld teach a lang0age1 nevertheless1 obvio0sly
and o/ necessity1 there -0st be so-e -eans and -ethod by .hich the great sages o/ olden
days co--0nicated /ro- ti-e to ti-e appropriate parts o/ the esoteric 2no.ledge to the
.orld; and this is done by teaching and el0cidating certain doctrinal principles thereo/1 these
principles act0ally being so-e o/ the basic /acts o/ the 2os-os# No0 cannot teach occ0ltis-
as yo0 .o0ld teach a lang0age1 /or the reason that the /acts o/ being o/ the 2os-os1 o/ inner
and o/ o0ter nat0re1 are so interloc2ed that 0nless one had a tho0sand tong0es1 spea2ing a
tho0sand idio-s at the sa-e ti-e1 and the hearers .ere capable o/ appreciating these
tho0sand idio-s at the sa-e instant1 one co0ld not convey the ideas1 the tho0ghts1
si-0ltaneo0sly into the -inds o/ the hearers# This -ay ill0strate1 i/ poorly1 .hy yo0 cannot
teach occ0ltis- as yo0 can teach a lang0age1 or a -ere physical science1 or so-e other
ordinary syste- o/ e3oteric st0dy1 s0ch as o0r 0niversities do teach; /or these latter st0dies or
sciences or arts are very si-ple1 dealing .ith one -ain line o/ tho0ght alone#
%0t the great sages o/ ancient ti-es laid do.n certain principles o/ tho0ght and o/ st0dy
.hich1 they tell 0s1 are1 or rather represent1 the /0nda-ental operations and characteristic
nat0res o/ the 0niverse# ,nd not one o/ those -ighty -inds ever atte-pted1 beca0se it is de
/acto i-possible1 to teach o/ these operations and nat0res as one .o0ld teach a lang0age or
a -ere physical science; b0t by hint1 by all0sion1 by an appeal to the int0ition and the innate
2no.ledge o/ his hearers1 and by proper physical ill0stration1 s0ch a teacher leads the- on1
step by step1 0ntil /inally the -an or the .o-an sees as in a /lash the -eaning conveyed as
a 2ey1 and grasps and applies that 2ey1 .ith greater or less s0ccess1 depending on the
hearer8s o.n spirit0al insight# $n that .ay1 there/ore1 are the doctrines o/ occ0ltis-
co--0nicated in the /irst /o0r stages o/ initiation#
No0 -ay ta2e1 /or instance1 the teaching regarding the beginnings o/ 2os-ic evol0tion# :e
realiDe /ro- this st0dy that there are seven di//erent principles o/ and in .hich the 2os-os is
b0ilded; .hich .or21 each one o/ the seven1 on its o.n plane ? or rather in its o.n .orld; and
to atte-pt to describe at the sa-e instant o/ ti-e the si-0ltaneo0s operations o/ these seven
principle'ele-ents is physically i-possible# %0t a hint is given1 an all0sion is -ade to so-e
one or -ore /acts o/ 0niversal nat0re; and the -ind o/ the hearer is opened by an int0itional
tho0ght .hich is aro0sed in hi-sel/ by the co--0nication# &o child is ta0ght to .al2 -erely
by seeing its parents .al21 b0t by itsel/ learning to p0t leg be/ore leg; and its /irst /eeble and
vacillating steps1 in ti-e1 gro. into the ass0red and con/ident stride o/ the -an#
So it is .ith these doctrines# 9ittle by little1 step by step1 o0r teachers lead 0s on to
0nderstand1 so that .e in o0r t0rn beco-e teachers to and o/ o0rselves1 and are enabled
boldly and s0ccess/0lly to apply as 2eys the doctrines that .e have heard to larger doors o/
learning and 2no.ledge1 leading into still -ore secret cha-bers o/ o0r great 7other &at0re#
,nd these cha-bers are /0ll o/ .onders and -ysteries1 -ystic and -arvelo0s beyond all
co-parison .ith things 0pon earth# $ a- thin2ing1 as $ spea21 o/ one o/ the real -eanings o/
that .onder/0l inscription .hich l0tarch tells 0s o/ in his treatise on -!iri! and 0!i!/ chapter 9
? l0tarch o/ 6haeronea1 the genial .riter1 the ini-itable biographer1 the great'hearted -an1
initiate1 I0onda- priest o/ =elphi1 o/ the /a-o0s oracle there# 4ne o/ his -ost -ystic .ritings
it is1 and one o/ the -ost di//ic0lt to 0nderstand1 so care/0lly does he veil his real -eaning#
Ae says that this inscription1 pres0-ably engraved over the portico o/ the great Te-ple o/
&eith1 at Sais in the delta o/ Egypt1 ran as /ollo.s5
$sis a- $1 $ a- all that .as1 that is1 and that shall be1
and no one o/ -ortals has ever li/ted -y veil#
,nd rocl0s1 the &eoplatonic philosopher1 in the co0rse o/ his co--entary on
the Tiaeu! o/ lato1 re-ar2s incidentally as /ollo.s .ith regard to this inscription1 that its
ending .as5
and the /r0it that $ bro0ght /orth beca-e the S0n#
&eith is the -ystic or occ0lt side o/ $sis; $sis represented the open side1 the obvio0s or plain
side1 o/ the hid goddess &eith# This veil .as the 0niversal nat0re aro0nd 0s1 hiding the
-ysteries and operations o/ the great 2os-ic li/e# ,nd to this day1 no one o/ -ortals1 ho.ever
great1 has ever s0cceeded in raising that veil 0tterly# %0t little by little as the aeons o/ ti-e
/lo. by1 o0r greatest seers1 the 7asters1 and the 7asters o/ the 7asters1 .ho also in their
spheres o/ tho0ght and action advance even as .e advance1 chec2 and prove and try the
2no.ledge co--0nicated by the gods o0r ancestors to the early races o/ -an2ind; prove the
tr0ths o/ being again1 -odi/y the- in /or- /or presentation to a later age; and in that sense
send /orth ane. to the .orld1 /ro- ti-e to ti-e1 so-e and -ore o/ the doctrines o/ reality#
Their .or2 is a very di//ic0lt one# There is nothing that -en resent so -0ch1 nothing that so
greatly aro0ses their ire and their hatred1 as to have their cherished belie/s dist0rbed#
6onsider ho. all the .orld teachers have been received1 in .hatever age# 9oo2 at the great'
hearted Socrates .ho1 tho0gh not initiated1 betrayed parts o/ the 7ysteries to the p0blic ear1
/ro- his o.n int0itional insight ? a serio0s cri-e in those days# 9oo2 at the legends
concerning Ees0s1 legends only1 nevertheless representing certain -ystic tr0ths; loo2 at
ythagoras; loo2 at every one o/ those great so0ls .ho have atte-pted to enlighten -an2ind
thro0gho0t the di//erent ages5 every one o/ the- .as persec0ted and -is0nderstood1 tho0gh
every one o/ the- .as giving his li/e.or21 his very so0l1 in order to help his /ello.s; every
one o/ the- .as hated; and1 in later ages1 every one o/ the-1 tho0gh -ore or less
0nderstood or -is0nderstood and .ronged1 .as al-ost ? and in one or t.o cases I0ite ?
dei/iedK So has it been today1 in o0r o.n age#
:e enter 0pon o0r st0dy tonight by reading again the sa-e e3tract /ro- vol0-e $ o/ The
Secret Doctrine that .e read at o0r -eeting last .ee21 /ro- pages 1(+'95
Everything in the -etaphysical as in the physical Universe is septenary# Aence every
sidereal body1 every planet1 .hether visible or invisible1 is credited .ith si3 co-panion
globes# # # # The evol0tion o/ li/e proceeds on these seven globes or bodies /ro- the 1st to
the 7th in Seven R4U&=S or Seven 6ycles#
No0 .ill re-e-ber that .e passed brie/ly in revie. the /o0r aspects o/ the .onder/0l doctrine
o/ the spheres; and .e -erely approached another doctrine still -ore .onder/0l1 the doctrine
o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os; and .e closed o0r st0dy /or that evening at the point .here
.e sa. that each globe o/ the l0nar chain o/ the seven/old -oon that .as ? each one o/
those globes ? had per/ected its respective series o/ ten stoc2s or /a-ilies and had pro>ected
the- into a laya'center1 one /or each globe1 in order that these respective ten /a-ilies or
stoc2s -ight have their long pralayic rest; and then that .hen1 a/ter the co0rse o/ cyclic
aeons1 the thrill o/ .a2ing li/e ret0rned again to these sleeping hosts1 di//erentiation set in in
these laya'centers as the li/e'.aves advanced do.n.ards to.ards the- thro0gh the vario0s
planes o/ s0perior -atter1 I0ic2ening and enlivening each plane1 one a/ter the other1 as the
li/e'.aves .ent lo.er and lo.er do.n# Re-e-ber that @lo.er@ here does not re/er to
-ove-ent in space alone1 b0t -0ch -ore to I0ality; the li/e'.aves .ere descending into
grosser and still grosser planes o/ -atter#
The /irst o/ the sleeping hosts that /elt the in/lo. o/ the li/e /orces as these reached it1 co-ing
/ro- the higher spheres1 .as that aggregate .hich .as to /or- globe , o/ the earth'chain#
Aere1 i/ yo0 .ill1 are t.elve globes1 representing the planetary chain o/ o0r earth or1
in/erentially1 the planetary chain o/ any one o/ the scores o/ planetary chains in o0r 0niversal
solar syste-# The 0pper-ost /ive1 as sho.n in the diagra-1 .e shall say very little o/# They
are s0perspirit0al .orlds# The lo.er seven are the .orlds in -ani/estation1 and it is these
lo.er seven that /or- the -ain s0b>ect o/ A# # %lavats2y8s o0tline o/ the planetary chains as
given by her in The Secret Doctrine8 and it is to these seven that .e shall restrict very largely
o0r re-ar2s#
These globes o/ the earth'chain are not yet1 as at this point o/ o0r st0dy1 in e3istence; b0t that
partic0lar series o/ ten stoc2s or /a-ilies .hich hitherto has been sleeping ? a sleeping
sphere co-ing over /ro- the -oon that .as1 globe , o/ the -oon that .as ? .hen it /eels
the thrill o/ inco-ing li/e1 begins to develop into globe , o/ the earth'chain# This inco-ing li/e
on each sleeping b0t no. rea.a2ing globe1 in the co0rse o/ the latter8s progress to /0ll
/or-ation1 passes do.n /ro- the spirit0al o/ its plane to the -aterial o/ its plane1 thro0gh
seven stages or steps or spaces o/ evol0tionary develop-ent# ,s does globe , o/ the earth'
chain1 so do globes %1 61 =1 E1 F1 and B; and each in t0rn1 b0t by a pec0liar proced0re .hich
.e are no. going to st0dy#
&o. o/ these ten /a-ilies1 .e shall go not -0ch /arther .ith regard to the three highest than
a -ere all0sion to the-1 and restrict o0r re-ar2s to the seven -ani/est stoc2s or /a-ilies
.hich /or- the vol0-es o/ the li/e'.aves circling aro0nd the seven globes in .hat are called
the chain'ro0nds# ,s .e sa. at o0r last st0dy1 a chain1round is the passage o/ the seven li/e'
.aves thro0gh the seven globes1 once1 /ro- globe , to globe B; and aglo6e1round is the
passage o/ these seven li/e'.aves thro0gh any one globe ? the traversing o/ any one globe
by those seven li/e'.aves ? d0ring the co0rse o/ their chain'ro0nd# These ro0nds are
the inner round!+ ,s regards the outer round!/ .e shall -a2e b0t little -ore than an all0sion
to the- at present1 and /or a very obvio0s reason# $/ /or so-e o/ 0s1 /or .e are all in the sa-e
state in this respect1 it is di//ic0lt eno0gh to 0nderstand even the inner ro0nds ? the passages
o/ the li/e'.aves aro0nd the seven globes o/ o0r o.n earth'chain ? it .o0ld be i-practicable1
0n.ise really1 at the present ti-e1 to overload o0r -inds .ith the teachings regarding the
o0ter ro0nds1 .hich .e stated as being the passages o/ the li/e'.aves /ro-1 thro0gh1 and
into1 in other larger ro0nds1 the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients#
%e/ore contin0ing1 $ .o0ld li2e to -a2e a little digression in order to avoid a later possible
-is0nderstanding# No0 2no. that there is a great deal .ritten and ta0ght in the .orld abo0t
astrology1 and vario0s so'called astrological teachers print pa-phlets and boo2s1 and .ill
cast and read yo0r horoscope as best they can# 4ccasionally1 by a l0c2y hit1 a happy g0ess1
g0ided -ore or less by the /rag-ents o/ ancient 2no.ledge that have co-e do.n to 0s in the
boo2s o/ the ancient peoples1 they -ay tell yo0 so-ething that is tr0e1 b0t ho. o/ten .ith the
best o/ good.ill do they -ista2e# The astrology o/ the ancients .as indeed a great and noble
science# 7odern astrology is b0t the tattered and re>ected o0ter coating o/ real ancient
astrology1 /or that tr0ly s0bli-e science .as the doctrine o/ the origin1 o/ the nat0re and o/ the
being1 and o/ the destiny1 o/ the solar bodies1 o/ the planetary bodies1 and o/ the beings .ho
d.ell on the-# This .onder/0l science .as /o0nded on t.o doctrines -ainly1 i#e#1 those t.o
.hich .e have been st0dying together /or the last t.o or three evenings5 the doctrine o/ the
spheres1 and the doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os1 the latter being -icrocos-ically
the doctrine o/ the circ0lations o/ the 0niversal solar syste-# ,nd the so'called astrology that
has co-e do.n to 0s and is .ith 0s today1 is b0t a series o/ sadly inco-plete and -0tilated
/rag-ents o/ teachings -is0nderstood by the later Bree2s and Ro-ans the-selves# lease
0nderstand this clearly1 beca0se there act0ally is a vast and noble science .hich .as in the
ancient ti-es called astrology1 a ter- .hich -eans the @science o/ the celestial bodies#@ So
great and so noble .as it that it .as held strictly as a 7ystery'teaching# $t .as al.ays against
the la. o/ the 7ysteries to tell to the o0t.ard .orld any o/ these 7ystery'teachings ? any
s0ch div0lging o/ the secret doctrines being held to be a grave cri-e and1 in the later ti-es1
.as even p0nished by the State .ith death#
The ancient nations the-selves1 the later Bree2s and Ro-ans1 /or instance1 /orbade the
p0blic practice and teaching o/ astrology1 /ro- reasons o/ so0nd p0blic policy1 beca0se they
2ne. that it co0ld not be ta0ght or practiced honestly in p0blic as a -eans o/ private gain#
They even .ent so /ar in the Ro-an E-pire as to /orbid its practice 0nder penalty o/
banish-ent or death# Ti-e and again1 the 7editerranean nations iss0ed the -ost drastic
la.s against it1 and against .hat the Ro-ans co--only called the @6haldaeans@ or
@astrologers1@ beca0se o/ the -0ch -ischie/ .hich arose /ro- it# The -isleading and
0nsettling o/ the -inds o/ the ignorant and tho0ghtless aro0sed the legislat0res o/ those
ti-es1 and they too2 legislative action in an atte-pt to c0rb the gro.ing evil# &evertheless
real astrology is a very pro/o0nd tr0th1 /or there act0ally is a bond o/ closest 0nion1 a strict
and per/ect correspondence a-ong all the parts o/ being5 all the parts o/ being /or-ing the
one vast organis- thro0gh .hich circ0lates and /lo.s one 0niversal li/e# This li/e /ollo.s
certain channels1 and collects in certain centers1 and these channels and centers are in/illed
.ith spirit0al and intellect0al energies1 and .ith .hat .e .o0ld call today electric and
-agnetic /orces; they /0nction -ore partic0larly in the centers1 certain solar syste-ic
ganglions1 .hich .e call the planets1 and herein lies the secret o/ the circ0lations .hich .e
have been spea2ing o/1 the secret o/ the gravitational p0ll .hich dra.s the li/e'ato-s o/ the
2os-os here and not there1 or vice versa# These li/e'ato-s .e -0st brie/ly spea2 o/ be/ore
.e close tonight1 i/ o0r ti-e per-its#
:e shall no. point o0t a /e. correspondences bet.een the t.elve globes o/ o0r planetary
chain and the planets1 and also bet.een these and those and the t.elve constellations o/ the
Dodiac# There is a strict and close correspondence bet.een each o/ the seven sacred planets
and one o/ the globes o/ o0r earth'chain1 respectively; and bet.een each one o/ the globes
and one o/ the constellations o/ the Dodiac ? one o/ the ho0ses o/ the circle o/ li/e1 as the
Bree2s called it# %0t .hile it is tr0e that the seven sacred planets o/ the ancients1 Sat0rn1
E0piter1 7ars1 the S0n !as a s0bstit0te /or a secret planet"1 Fen0s1 7erc0ry1 and the 7oon
!as a s0bstit0te /or another secret planet"1 do act0ally b0ild and oversee o0r planetary chain
as a .hole1 i#e#1 one o/ the sacred planets respectively to one o/ the globes ? the one
predo-inating po.er over each globe co-ing /ro- its especial sacred planet ? nevertheless1
the in/l0ences o/ the other si3 o/ the seven sacred planets are at .or2 therein also# 9i2e.ise1
.hile each one o/ these t.elve globes o/ the planetary chain is 0nder the partic0lar oversight1
or overseeing1 o/ one o/ the constellations o/ the Dodiac1 that is to say1 o/ the predo-inating
geni0s or rector o/ that constellation o/ the Dodiac1 nevertheless each one o/ the other eleven
constellations is also at .or2 in each o/ the t.elve globes o/ the chain# There can be no
separation o/ /orces1 /or everything .or2s together in nat0re to.ards a co--on end ? .hich
is one o/ the noblest proo/s .e have o/ 0niversal brotherhood#
9et 0s begin .ith globe , o/ the -ani/est seven# Blobe , is 0nder the oversight o/ the S0n
!as a s0bstit0te"1 and its Dodiacal ho0se is 9eo# Blobe % 0nder E0piter1 Dodiacal ho0se
Sagittari0s# Blobe 61 Fen0s1 Dodiacal ho0se 9ibra# Blobe =1 o0r Earth1 Sat0rn1 Dodiacal
ho0se 6apricorn# Blobe E1 7erc0ry1 Dodiacal ho0se Firgo# Blobe F1 7ars1 Dodiacal ho0se
Scorpio# Blobe B1 7oon !as a s0bstit0te /or a secret planet"1 Dodiacal ho0se 6ancer#
&o. going to the /ive s0perarchetypal globes1 let 0s ta2e the one at the top1 the /irst !or last"
o/ .hich1 by the .ay1 o0r poor1 -aterial earth is the copy in -atter5 planet Sat0rn1 Dodiacal
ho0se ,I0ari0s# lease note that this is the constellation called the :ater-an# 6ontin0ing to
the le/t1 the globe belo.5 the planet is Fen0s1 Dodiacal ho0se Ta0r0s# The one belo. that on
the descending arc is 0nder E0piter1 the Dodiacal ho0se is isces# 6rossing along and ta2ing
the globe on the sa-e plane as the last -entioned1 b0t on the ascending arc1 the planet is
7ars1 and the Dodiacal ho0se is ,ries# The one above it and ne3t to the last !or /irst"1 the
planet is 7erc0ry1 and the Dodiacal ho0se is Be-ini#
$/ it .ere possible to do so in the short ti-e .e have1 .e co0ld go into .onderlands o/ st0dy
in /ollo.ing o0t the vario0s relations o/ the globes o/ o0r chain and o/ the planets and o/ the
ho0ses o/ the Dodiac1 and concerning the beings d.elling on these globes and planets1 and
concerning the circ0lations o/ the li/e'.aves# 9et -e recall to yo0r -ind1 be/ore leaving this
s-all detail o/ o0r st0dy1 a state-ent -ade by A# # %lavats2y in The Secret Doctrine/ .here
she says that @i/ .e co0ld only /ollo. the advent0res o/ an ato-@ ? $ a- I0oting in s0bstance
? @no ro-ance that has ever been .ritten or i-agined1 co0ld eI0al this the-e /or -ystic
.onder1 and /or the pro/0ndity o/ its appeal to the spirit0al nat0re o/ o0r so0l#@
:e are no. going to pass1 i/ yo0 please1 to a -0ch later stage in planetary evol0tion1
possibly ret0rning later to the point .here .e are no.# :e have no. arrived at the point
.here .e -0st /ind o0t ho. globe , o/ the earth'chain1 in the "ir!t round1 is b0ilded# These
ten /a-ilies ? three o/ the- .e .ill leave .itho0t /0rther -ention at present ? or rather
these !e4en ani"e!t /a-ilies or stoc2s o/ the in/lo.ing li/e'.aves1 these seven li/e'.aves1
are the seven .hich le/t the corresponding globe , o/ the -oon at its death1 and .ere its ten
or seven principles# They are no. reentering into -ani/estation a/ter their long pralayic rest1
clothing the-selves .ith sheaths1 or veils1 o/ s0persens0o0s -atter as they descend thro0gh
the three s0perarchetypal spheres above the -ani/est /o0r 2os-ic planes1 on the do.n.ard
arc1 0ntil aeons 0pon aeons later .hen they have reached this plane ? the /o0rth 2os-ic
plane co0nting do.n.ards1 o/ the seven 2os-ic planes1 on .hich /o0rth plane o/ the 2os-os
the /orthco-ing globe , o/ an earth planetary chain is to be ? they are ready to begin its
/or-ation# ,nd ho. do they proceed; First co-e the three 2ingdo-s o/ the ele-ental .orld#
The /irst 2ingdo- b0ilds1 r0nning the ga-0t o/ its seven degrees or stages1 and .hen its
.or2 is /inished1 it goes into obsc0ration; seven -inor steps o/ b0ilding does it b0ild1 seven
degrees o/ .or2 has it to do1 be/ore its s0rpl0s o/ li/e can pass to a lo.er plane on the
do.n.ard arc1 and begin to constr0ct and b0ild the /o0ndation o/ the!ucceeding globe % to
co-e#
:hen it! seven stages o/ .or2 are /inished1 the second ele-ental .orld then steps in
instantly1 and /ollo.s the sa-e co0rse o/ seven stages# :henit! seven are /inished1 it also
passes in its t0rn its s0rpl0s o/ li/e on.ards1 do.n to the /o0ndation prepared /or it by the /irst
ele-ental !or preceding" 2ingdo-1 to globe % belo.# Then /ollo.s on globe , the third
ele-ental 2ingdo-# Then1 .hen these three are th0s /inished1 there begins to .or2 on globe
, the -ineral 2ingdo-1 that is to say1 the -ineral .orld corresponding to globe ,; and
.hen it! seven/old .or2 is /inished on the basis provided by the three ele-ental 2ingdo-s1
there /ollo.s the seven/old li/e'.ave o/ the vegetable 2ingdo-; and it r0ns thro0gh its seven
cycles or stoc2'races# ,nd .hen it! co0rse is /inished1 its s0rpl0s li/e /ollo.s the strea- o/
the already descended entities into the plane belo.1 into globe %1 into the .or2 prepared /or it
by its predecessors#
Then co-es the ani-al 2ingdo- into globe ,# Re-e-ber1 $ a- spea2ing o/ the /irst ro0nd
only1 so /ar# :hen the /irst ro0nd is /inished1 and the second ro0nd begins a/ter the
interglobal nirvana bet.een globe B and globe ,1 the -ethod o/ proced0re is changed# :e
are no. disc0ssing the /irst ro0nd only# :hen the ani-al 2ingdo- has r0n thro0gh its seven
stoc2'races !or root'races" on globe ,1 then co-es the seventh and last stoc2'/a-ily or
2ingdo-1 or the h0-an1 on globe , o/ o0r chain#
&o. to go bac2 a little# Ta2e the /irst ele-ental 2ingdo- on globe ,# $t is /inishing its seventh
root'race1 its seventh stoc2'race1 its seventh cycle1 its seventh ring as 7r# Sinnett called it;
and .hen it has /inished this1 its li/e'.ave then passes on co-pletely to globe %1 .here its si3
preceding stoc2'races had already gone .hen they had /inished their respective cycles# ,nd
.hat is le/t behind; =o all the hosts o/ lives o/ that /irst ele-ental 2ingdo- go there; =o they
all pass do.n to globe %; lease note this detail1 /or it is very1 very i-portant /or o0r /0t0re
st0dies# They do not; that /irst ele-ental 2ingdo- leaves behind it on globe , the !i!hta! ? a
Sans2rit .ord -eaning @re-ainders#@ This .ord itsel/ contains a .hole doctrine o/ .onder;
and >0st here is ill0strated one o/ o0r di//ic0lties in lect0ring# Every step that .e -a2e
/or.ards opens to vie. a ne. aven0e1 opens a ne. door1 till .e are /airly be.ildered .ith the
.onder o/ it all; and .e -0st hold by sheer /orce o/ .ill to o0r -ain the-e o/ tho0ght lest .e
be dra.n o// into other paths# ,nd this is one o/ the .ays by .hich the Teachers are enabled
to disg0ise the teachings and hide the- /ro- those not entitled to the-1 as re-ar2ed be/ore#
They cannot tell all1 not even o/ a single doctrine1 /or the reason that it si-ply .o0ldn8t be
0nderstood# They tell 0s as -0ch as they -ay and can1 and give hints and all0sions to
so-ething else; and this -ethod very conveniently th0s acts as a @blind#@ Aence1 so-eti-es
people say1 @:hy1 this doctrine is contradictoryK@ $t is not# arado3ical1 yes; contradictory1 no#
&o. .hat are the sishtas o/ the /irst ele-ental 2ingdo- or .orld that re-ain on globe , a/ter
that li/e'.ave has passed on to /or- the /o0ndation o/ globe %; ,nd .hat are the sishtas o/
the second ele-ental .orld .hen its li/e'.ave has passed do.n to globe % and its sishtas
re-ain behind on globe ,; and si-ilarly .ith the third ele-ental .orld1 and all the other /o0r
2ingdo-s; :e .ill describe .hat it is by an ill0stration dra.n /ro- o0r o.n present -ineral
2ingdo- on this earth# The -inerals .e no. have on o0r earth1 today1 are the -ineral
2ingdo- o/ o0r globe = in obsc0ration here1 that is to say1 they are the re-ainders or the
sishtas o/ o0r -ineral 2ingdo- .hich has passed on /or.ards to the globes on the 0p.ard
arc1 preparing those globes /or o0r /0t0re co-ing1 .hen .e co-e in o0r t0rn on leaving this
globe = or earth# &ot that they alone .or2 /or 0s1 /or .e .or2 /or the- too; each 2ingdo-
.or2s /or each other 2ingdo-1 and all .or2 /or all# %0t the real b0l2 or vol0-e o/ the -ineral
2ingdo- has gone on; and it has le/t its sishtas behind on this globe earth1 its @sleeping
spheres1@ its @sleeping ato-s#@ ,nd so .hen all the 2ingdo-s o/ globe , have passed on1
each one leaves behind its sishtas1 its re-ainders1 its lives representing the very highest
point o/ evol0tion arrived at by that 2ingdo- in that ro0nd1 sleeping5 sleeping li/e'ato-s1
dor-ant1 relatively -otionless# &ot .itho0t li/e1 ho.ever; /or everything is alive; there is no
dead -atter any.here# $s a -an dead .ho is asleep; &o; b0t sleeping1 dor-ant1 resting#
These sishtas o/ all the seven 2ingdo-s th0s a.ait the inco-ing o/ the li/e'.aves on the ne3t
ro0nd1 and then they rea.a2en to a ne. cycle o/ activity#
No0 2no. do0btless a bea0ti/0l old /airy story1 given to 0s /ro- the French1 .ho got it /ro-
the ersians1 and the ersians received it /ro- the Aind0s; $ thin2 that the English version is
called @rince 6har-ing1@ or @The Sleeping %ea0ty#@ The French title o/ it is <a 9elle au 9oi!
Dorant/ @The %ea0ty in the Sleeping ? Enchanted ? :ood#@ Re-e-ber the bea0ti/0l old
tale5 the .ondro0s castle1 the enchanted .ood1 in both o/ .hich everything and all is
sleeping; even the princess1 the castle8s chatelaine1 is sleeping1 .aiting1 en.rapped in
drea-less sleep; and by and by co-es along rince 6har-ing1 .ho sees this enchanted
.ood and he enters into it# Ae is a 2night'errant1 o0t to achieve deeds o/ noble doing# Ae
enters this enchanted castle and he sees the Sleeping %ea0ty1 and he bends do.n and he
2isses her /orehead; and instantly everything a.a2ens1 everything is restored to
conscio0sness1 and is set in -otion and -ove-ent# Th0s1 verily1 is it .ith the inco-ing o/ the
li/e'.aves# :hen the inco-ing li/e'.aves stri2e or rather reenter into the dor-ant li/e'ato-s1
they a.a2en; things are restored to individ0al activity# Th0s1 each one o/ these seven sphere'
globes o/ o0r chain1 .hen it is in .hat .e call obsc0ration1 is a sleeping sphere1 a dor-ant
sphere ? /0ll o/ general li/e1 indeed1 as is a sleeping -an1 b0t individ0aliDed activity is
dor-ant#
9et -e say in passing1 lest there be a /0t0re -is0nderstanding1 that not one o/ the globes1
.hen in obsc0ration1 re-ains dor-ant /or the /0ll period o/ a chain'ro0nd# That is to say1
.hen its seven stoc2s or /a-ilies have le/t globe , and passed on /or.ards to the
s0cceeding globes1 globe , does not re-ain dor-ant thro0gho0t the co-plete d0ration o/
the re-aining si3'sevenths o/ the -anvantara o/ that ro0nd 0ntil1 a/ter the interplanetary
nirvana1 the li/e'.aves reenter it again# %0t .hen a certain period o/ ti-e has passed1 it
rea.a2ens and receives another s0cceeding li/e'.ave# =i//ic0lt indeed it is to 0nderstand the
inter.or2ing even o/ the inner ro0nds1 to say nothing o/ the o0ter ro0nds# ,nd these di//erent
li/e'.aves are the seven li/e'.aves passing aro0nd the chain1 not all together1 and not all
d0ring the period o/ one globe'ro0nd; b0t so-e o/ these li/e'.aves precede others1 beca0se
they are -ore evolved1 and r0n the race -ore I0ic2ly# Aence it is that .e have a-ong 0s
.hat A# # %lavats2y and the 7asters call "i"th rounder! and even1 very1 very rarely1 !i@th
rounder!+There again is another one o/ the -any s0b>ects .hich .e -0st re/er /or st0dy to
/0t0re -eetings#
So1 then1 each one o/ these seven 2ingdo-s1 d0ring a globe'ro0nd1 a/ter the e3piration o/ its
seven root'races or stoc2'races1 passes its s0rpl0s o/ li/e to the globe ne3t /ollo.ing in order
aro0nd the chain1 and itsel/ ? its re-ainders ? goes into dor-ancy or obsc0ration .ith the
globe that it leaves as a li/e'.ave#
:e leave o0r st0dy tonight at this point to be ta2en 0p again at o0r ne3t -eeting# %0t $ .o0ld
li2e to add a /e. general .ords abo0t the li/e'ato-s be/ore closing# :hat do .e -ean .hen
.e spea2 o/ li/e'ato-s; :e do not -ean that they are only and -erely the ato-s o/ prana1
/or those are only one s-all part o/ the vast hosts o/ the li/e'ato-s# The li/e'ato-s in general
-ean the ato-s o/ li/e1 o/ the 0niversal li/e /or-ing o0r planetary chain# Aence1 the
e3pression @li/e'ato-s@ is a short and convenient .ay o/ saying the 6uilding 6loc2! o" the
uni4er!e1 the bric2s1 so to say1 o/ the vital 2os-os# So -any en on earth1 so -any god! in
heaven# So -anyonad! in heaven1 so -any li"e1ato! on earth1 or else.here# So
-anyato! on earth1 so -any eI0ivalent god1!%ar2! in heaven# Bods1 -onads1 ato-s ? yo0
re-e-ber the chapter that A# # %lavats2y has so pre/aced in The Secret Doctrine/ th0s
sho.ing the three general classes or degrees o/ -ani/ested li/e5 the highest1 the inner god;
the -onad1 its vehicle1 .hich is -an in his essence; and third1 hi-sel/ as a co-posite being
/or-ed o/ the li/e'ato-s .hich he hi!el" ha! 6rought "orth+ The li/e'ato-s1 then1 are the vital
b0ilding bric2s o/ the 2os-os# :e -ean also in one sense that they are the li/e'ato-s o/ the
globe# The globe1 all globes1 are the li/e'ato-s o/ a still larger body# ,gain1 there are li/e'
ato-s1 i/ yo0 please1 on the physical plane; li/e'ato-s on the astral plane; li/e'ato-s on the
-ental plane; li/e'ato-s on the spirit0al plane; li/e'ato-s on every plane or rather .orld; and1
as /ar as .e 2no.1 so on /orever# F0rther-ore1 each one o/ these li/e'ato-s1 no -atter on
.hat plane it -ay be1 is an e-bryo'so0l1 gro.ing1 evolving1 .ith a s0bli-e destiny be/ore it#
Even .e are the li/e'ato-s o/ o0r o.n solar 9ogos1 its o//spring or children verily1 the children
o/ o0r Aighest1 o/ it1 the 9ogos# ,nd in aeons to co-e1 i/ .e r0n the race s0ccess/0lly as -en1
and then as dhyan'chohans1 .e1 each one o/ 0s1 in the in/init0des o/ -atter'space1 shall be a
9ogos; and the li/e'ato-s .hich now co-pose o0r bodies and o0r vehicles1 inner and o0ter1
and .hich are o0r o//spring1 o0r children1 shall be in those distant aeons the dhyan'chohans1
the archangels1 and the angels1 and the pra>apatis1 and the -an0s1 and the h0-an beings;
and all the hosts o/ the evolving lives no. belo. 0s and behind 0s in the grand evol0tionary
dra-a o/ being1 shall in their t0rn also have advanced correspondingly /ar along the paths o/
destiny#
%e/ore .e close this evening .e have been as2ed to ans.er the I0estions5 @:hat proo/ can
yo0 bring to the average -an or .o-an o/ the tr0th o/ these s0bli-e teachings;@ @:hat are
the /o0ndations o/ the teachings o/ the esoteric philosophy;@ The ans.er to the /irst I0estion
is this5 .e can bring%roo"1 c0-0lative proo/1 and yo0 .ill re-e-ber .hat .e have pointed o0t
be/ore as being proo/# roo/ is the bringing o/ conviction to the -ind1 and this conviction is
bro0ght by a preponderance o/ evidence# ,nd i/ as2ed the /0rther I0estion1 @4n .hat
/o0ndation do yo0 bring that proo/;@ .e say1 on t.o /o0ndations1 -0t0ally s0pporting# First1
on the innate /ac0lties in the h0-an so0l .hich tell a -an that s0ch or another thing is tr0e;
he then is satis/ied spirit0ally1 intellect0ally1 e-otionally# To hi- it is proved# That is one
proo/# The other one is perhaps not so strong per se1 b0t to the average -an it is perhaps
stronger# :e can sho. that the greatest -inds o/ all ages have believed as .e believe# They
did not 0se the sa-e .ords or technical phrases perhaps1 did not teach the doctrines in the
sa-e /or- perhaps1 b0t the heart o/ it all nonetheless .as there1 the real thing .as there1 the
core o/ it# No0 .ill /ind all this in the .orld8s literat0res; and the only di//ic0lty that it see-s to
-e co0ld be enco0ntered ? and $ -erely -a2e this re-ar2 o0t o/ pr0dence ? is this5 that only
too o/ten the ancient literat0res are not 0nderstood1 even by those .ho translate the- and
read the-# erhaps to the average inI0irer the -ost convincing evidence is that the /inest
-inds o/ all ti-es have believed in the theosophical doctrines; and it is to these great
intellects that .e re/er1 as to an 0lti-ate co0rt o/ appeal1 -0ch as h0-an beings 0s0ally re/er
disp0ted I0estions /or sol0tion to the noblest -inds that they have a-ong the-selves1
/eeling s0re that the I0estions .ill be solved in the best .ay in .hich good and able -en can
solve the-# $ repeat1 that .e bring proo/# %0t1 o/ co0rse1 the inI0irer1 i/ honest1 -0st do his
o.n thin2ing; that .e cannot do /or hi-#
The /o0ndations o/ the esoteric teachings1 /or the average person rest on e3actly the sa-e
basis o/ de-onstration that the /or-er I0estion does# $/ yo0 /ind that bac2 o/ the teachings
.hich have co-e do.n to 0s /ro- i--e-orial ti-es1 there are certain /acts1 certain
doctrines1 .hich are the sa-e all over the .orld1 and in all ages1 .hich .ere not o0t.ardly1
not openly e3pressed1 b0t .ere 2ept hid1 it is logically necessary to ass0-e that they .ere
loo2ed 0pon as esoteric1 other.ise .hy hide the-; These being the sa-e in s0bstance
every.here1 .e as2 the reason1 :hy are they the sa-e; The nat0ral ? and correct ?
in/erence is that they .ere dra.n /ro- the sa-e co--on so0rce .hich1 no. an in/erence1
gro.s into /0ll conviction as .e st0dy the-# Really1 their best proo/ is in the-selvesK
hapter Forty-Five
hysiology1 sychology1 and ne0-atology o/ the Universe# Ten and T.elve
lanes o/ the Universal Solar Syste-5 $nter-ediate 6ritical lanes# ,ll
7ani/ested %eing a Braded 6ontin00- o/ $nterrelated1 $nterloc2ed
Aierarchies5 Each .ith its 4.n %eginning and End# Sishtas and the
S0rpl0s o/ 9i/e#
>The Sun i! the heart o" the Solar 7orld DS&!teB and it! 6rain i! hidden 6ehind the
D4i!i6leB Sun+ Fro thence/ !en!ation i! radiated into e4er& ner4e1centre o" the great
6od&/ and the wa4e! o" the li"e1e!!ence "low into each arter& and 4ein# # # #The %lanet!
are it! li6! and %ul!e!+ D*oentar&+B # # #
Th0s1 there is a reg0lar circ0lation o/ the vital /l0id thro0gho0t o0r syste-1 o/ .hich the
S0n is the heart ? the sa-e as the circ0lation o/ the blood in the h0-an body ? d0ring the
-anvantaric solar period1 or li/e; the S0n contracting as rhyth-ically at every ret0rn o/ it1
as the h0-an heart does# 4nly1 instead o/ per/or-ing the ro0nd in a second or so1 it ta2es
the solar blood ten o/ its years1 and a .hole year to pass thro0gh
its auricle! and 4entricle! be/ore it .ashes the lung! and passes thence to the great veins
and arteries o/ the syste-#
# # # The 0niverse !o0r .orld in this case" breathes1 >0st as -an and every living creat0re1
plant1 and even -ineral does 0pon the earth; and as o0r globe itsel/ breathes every
t.enty'/o0r ho0rs# # # #
# # # Space is the real .orld1 .hile o0r .orld is an arti/icial one# $t is the 4ne Unity
thro0gho0t its in/init0de5 in its botto-less depths as on its ill0sive s0r/ace; a s0r/ace
st0dded .ith co0ntless pheno-enal Universes1 syste-s and -irage'li2e .orlds#
&evertheless1 to the Eastern 4cc0ltist1 .ho is an ob>ective $dealist at the botto-1 in
thereal .orld1 .hich is a Unity o/ Forces1 there is @a connection o/ all -atter in
the %lenu1@ as 9eibnitD .o0ld say# This is sy-boliDed in the ythagorean Triangle#
? The Secret Doctrine/ $1 (*11 C1(
$ntelligences are .itho0t beginning#
The Sphere hath an active So0l#
The heavens have neither rent nor sea-# ? The De!atir/ @The %oo2 o/ Shet Sasan the
First1@ vv# 1C1 171 2) !70lla Fir0D %in <a0s1 trans#"
The heavy'-oving stars are -any1 and each has an $ntelligence1 a So0l and a %ody#
,nd in li2e -anner every distinct division o/ the heavens and planets1 hath its
$ntelligences and So0ls# ? $bid#1 @The %oo2 o/ the rophet1 the Breat ,bad1@ vv# 231 2*LeIM
TAE ANS$494BN o/ the 0niverse .hich .e have been st0dying d0ring the last /e.
-eetings sho0ld be 0nderstood in its relation to the psychology o/ the 0niverse; and1 at the
sa-e ti-e1 .e sho0ld re-e-ber that beyond the psychological aspect o/ the 2os-ic li/e
there is the pne0-atology o/ the 0niverse; these giving rise in their respective /ields to the
three essential vehicles thro0gh and in .hich1 /ro- .hich1 and bac2 to .hich1 the 0niversal
li/e plays and /lo.s and is ? the three th0s being the /o0ntainheads o/ and there/ore
corresponding in -an to his three general divisions o/ body1 so0l1 and spirit# The physiology
o/ the 0niverse co-prises the totality o/ all the i-bodied or envehicled entities thereo/; the
psychology o/ the 0niverse co-prises the vario0s hierarchies o/ spirit0al beings .hich .or2
in those hosts o/ bodies; and the pne0-atology o/ the 0niverse co-prises all those divine
beings standing behind1 r0ling and inspiring1 the inter-ediate classes# &o. the doctrines .ith
regard to this third and last division are e3tre-ely di//ic0lt1 as .e all 2no.1 and hitherto .e
have had occasion -erely to all0de to the-# 40r st0dies1 so /ar1 have co-prised only an
atte-pt to 0nderstand so-ething o/ the psychology and o/ the physiology o/ the spaces o/
2os-os#
&o. one ? and perhaps one o/ the greatest ? o/ the /0nctions or operations o/ 0niversal
nat0re is that .hich is e3pressed by o0r .ord evol0tion; and .e 0se it in strictly the
ety-ological sense1 -eaning theun"olding or the unrolling1 or the rolling outward!/ o/ .hat is1
or has been1 i-pacted in the original seed or root# :e do not 0se the .ord evol0tion as that
.ord is -is0sed in -odern biological science# $n /act1 biologists do not teach evol0tion; they
teach .hat the French very correctly call tran!"ori!e8 and the di//erence bet.een the t.o
senses is i--ense# ,s1 at a later date1 .e shall go into this st0dy -ore in detail Llect0res
given in 1927'9 and later iss0ed as Man in #4olutionM1 .e desire at present to call attention to
this great di//erence o/ -eaning -erely in order to avoid a -is0nderstanding1 that in 0sing
the .ords evol0tion or develop-ent as these are 0sed in occ0ltis-1 .e 0se the- in the
sense 0sed by -odern biologists# &ot at all# :e e-ploy the .ord evol0tion strictly in the
ety-ological sense ? the 0n/olding1 the 0nrolling1 the o0tgoing1 o/ the /orces lying latent1 /ro-
its past 2ar-a1 in the seed o/ the being or entity1 .hatever it -ay be1 .hich enters 0pon a
cycle o/ active e3istence#
This great principle .as .ell ill0strated in the case o/ 2os-ic evol0tion by .hat the ancient
Stoics ta0ght .ith regard to the evolving or develop-ent or evol0tion1 the rolling o0t1 o/ the
/o0r !or /ive" ele-ents o/ the ancients1 as those ele-ents .ere 0nderstood in their day# They
ta0ght1 as .e pointed o0t at a /or-er st0dy1 that the /i/th ele-ent1 the /i/th essence or
I0intessence1 called aether ? .hich is o0r a2asa ? held in its boso- be/ore their
-ani/estation or evolving the seeds o/ the lo.er /o0r; and that .hen the ti-e ca-e /or these
/o0r to evolve1 .hen the =eity1 .hen He0s1 .ished to send /orth the .orlds again into
-ani/estation a/ter a period o/ repose1 the /irst that appeared .as the ele-ent /ire1 rolling o0t
/ro- aether !or a2asa"1 evolving1 0n.rapping itsel/1 /ro- it# &ot /ire as .e 0nderstand it1 b0t1
as it .ere1 the seed o/ /ire1 the spirit o/ /ire1 that pri-ary and ele-ental 2os-ic /orce o/ .hich
/ire on o0r plane1 this lo. plane1 is a /eeble -ani/estation# Then1 .hen /ire had r0n thro0gh its
co0rse o/ cyclic evol0tion1 in the sa-e .ay that it had proceeded /orth /ro- the boso- o/
aether or a2asa1 so did air /ro- /ire1 0nrolling itsel/ /ro- the boso- o/ /ire .hich had
contained in itsel/ this ele-ent air; containing not -erely its o.n!wa6ha4a/ or characteristic
or I0ality o/ /ieriness1 as .e say in 4riental tho0ght1 b0t containing in itsel/ al!o the
characteristic o/ its o.n parent aether1 a2asa# Then1 ne3t in seI0ence1 /ro- air rolled /orth1
.as 0n.rapped1 sprang /orth in develop-ent1 the ele-ent .ater# &ot o0r .ater1 .hich is
abs0rd1 b0t that .hich .e -ight call the seed o/ .ater1 the spirit o/ .ater1 that .hich .ater or
liI0idity represents on o0r plane; and it held in its boso- so-e.hat o/ the I0ality or
characteristic o/ air1 its parent; and o/ /ire1 its grandparent; and also o/ aether or a2asa# $t
contained also the /orces1 the potencies1 and the po.ers1 o/ these its predecessors1 b0t
/eebler nat0rally in .ater than in their o.n respective real-s; the I0alities and potencies o/
each preceding one gro.ing /eebler as the evol0tion proceeds /arther on1 i#e#1 -ore largely
into @-atter#@ Then /ro- .ater1 /ro- its boso-1 evolved or rolled /orth the seed o/ the ele-ent
earth# :hen the t0rn o/ the cycle set in1 .hen the evol0tion o/ these ele-ents1 .hen the
b0ilding o/ globes and so /orth1 had co-e to an end1 and He0s .ished to recall the- all bac2
to his boso-1 then the reverse proced0re began1 and .ater too2 0nto itsel/ again its child1 the
ele-ent earth# Earth began to liI0esce and to pass bac2 into the ele-ent .ater# Then in its
t0rn1 in its d0e period1 the ele-ent .ater began to aeri/y its particles and to pass into1 or .as
gathered again into1 the boso- o/ its parent1 the ele-ent air# Then air in its t0rn began to
igni/y its nat0re and to pass into the boso- o/ its parent /ire# Then1 /inally1 /ire aetherialiDed its
nat0re and passed bac2 into the boso- o/ the /i/th essence or aether1 its parent; and the
cycle o/ 2os-ic evol0tion .as ended /or another period o/ repose#
&o. .e carry these /ive ele-ents /arther on at least to seven in n0-ber# %0t there is the
principle o/ develop-ent inherent in the 2os-os .hich .e ill0strate by 0sing the .ord
evol0tion as above o0tlined5 the o0tgoing o/ the breath1 the breathing /orth1 o/ %rah-a1 as the
archaic $ndian thin2ers said# The .or2 done1 then ens0ed the inbreathing1 the ingathering1
the invol0tion1 o/ %rah-a# recisely the sa-e ill0stration that .e have >0st given /ro- the
Stoic philosophy yo0 .ill /ind in the ancient Aind0 literat0re1 in the Upanishads1 and -ore
partic0larly in the 0ranas#
E0st so1 a/ter the sa-e -anner1 .ith d0e changes -ade /or circ0-stances and entities1 are
the globes o/ o0r planetary chain evolved# Blobe , r0ns thro0gh its li/e cycle1 and then
evolves globe %1 .hich in t0rn r0ns its li/e cycle1 and then evolves globe 61 .hich r0ns
thro0gh its li/e cycle and evolves globe =1 or o0r globe earth# Blobe = r0ns thro0gh its li/e
cycle and evolves globe E; and then are evolved globe F and then globe B1 the last o/ the
-ani/ested seven1 in the sa-e -anner# These globe'evol0tions are the s0b>ect .hich .e are
no. st0dying#
The I0estions that have been as2ed have been e3ceedingly help/0l to the present spea2er#
They have sho.n hi-1 /or instance1 that not eno0gh has been said abo0t the planes o/
2os-os and the principles o/ 2os-os1 and abo0t the vario0s .ays and /orces by .hich these
t.elve globes o/ o0r planetary chain are interrelated# 9et 0s then ill0strate these in the
/ollo.ing diagra-5
Aere .e have the seven 2os-ic planes represented by straight lines1 and above the- is
sho.n a triangle1 .hich .ill represent1 i/ yo0 please1 the pne0-atological or divine or
s0perspirit0al three planes abo0t .hich it is needless no. to spea21 beca0se even i/ anything
.ere said abo0t the- it is very do0bt/0l that it .o0ld be o/ assistance to 0s at the present
ti-e# The teachings .ith regard to the- are too abstract# %elo. the triangle /ollo. the three
higher planes o/ the 2os-ic -ani/est seven1 containing the /ive hid globes o/ o0r planetary
chain; then belo. these /ollo. the /o0r lo.er planes o/ the 2os-ic -ani/est seven o/ the
2os-os1 containing o0r -ani/ested seven globes1 or .hat A# # %lavats2y in The Secret
Doctrine0s0ally called the planetary chain o/ the earth# :e have n0-bered the- as in /or-er
st0dies1 ,1 %1 61 =1 E1 F1 and B# $n addition1 each one o/ these seven 2os-ic -ani/est planes
or .orlds is itsel/ a septenary1 i#e#1 divided into seven s0bplanes or .orlds# This /act .ill co-e
in as a very i-portant s0b>ect in o0r later st0dies#
No0 .ill notice that these t.elve globes are on seven planes# No0 .ill ne3t notice that in the
diagra- only seven -ani/est 2os-ic planes1 and a triangle representing three divine planes1
are given1 .hich -a2e ten# &o. .hy do .e not here sho. t.elve 2os-ic planes or .orlds;
:e have dra.n the diagra- in this .ay in order to call attention1 by an apparent lac2 o/
so-ething1 to a /act .hich .e .ish to e-phasiDe# No0 -ay re-e-ber the 9atin poet1
7artian0s 6apella1 spea2ing o/ the s0n1 @.hose sacred head is encircled .ith t.ice si3 rays#@
&o. these t.ice si3 rays encircling the head o/ the solar god represent the t.ice si3 po.ers
or the t.ice si3 globes in the spirit0al s0n# 40r visible physical s0n is b0t the body o/ the s0n#
There are seven -ani/est s0ns; act0ally there are ten and t.o polar @lin2s#@ :e see b0t one
s0n1 the lo.est; that s0n1 as a -atter o/ /act1 nonetheless being on our highest physical
plane; b0t1 as the storyteller says1 @that is again another story@K
These t.elve /orces o/ the s0n represent and are the t.elve /orces o/ the 9ogos1 .ho is the
-ani/est solar god; and1 nat0rally1 being t.elve /orces they -0st have their o.n ho-es to
live in1 their o.n spheres o/ appropriate action# They -0st have the appropriate -atters or
s0bstances in .hich to .or2# ,s a -atter o/ /act1 the& are the!el4e! their own hoe!J They
b0ild their o.n ho0ses .ith a part o/ the-selves1 even as a snail b0ilds its o.n shell1
re-aining not.ithstanding apart; in it1 controlling it1 each one to each1 b0t yet not o/ it1 as the
spirit and the so0l o/ a -an re-ain apart /ro- his body1 in it yet above it1 and in a tr0e sense
not o/ it#
These t.elve /orces represent and are1 there/ore1 the t.elve planes o/ the 0niversal solar
syste-; yet there are b0t ten planes in a hierarchy# :hat abo0t the e3tra t.o1 the eleventh
and the t.el/th; &o. here is the sol0tion o/ the riddle# ,ll -ani/ested being is a contin00-#
This -eans that 0niversal being e3tends itsel/ in/initely in all directions1 -ost especially .e
say in.ards and o0t.ards1 .itho0t brea2 o/ contin0ity1 yet graded into inn0-erable parts or
steps or planes or .orlds; and this contin00- is1 so to say1 bro2en 0p into hierarchies
-ani/esting in seven1 ten1 or t.elve divisions or parts# The lo.est seven parts are
the ani"e!t portion o/ any hierarchy1 that portion .hich is b0ilded belo. a certain plane o/
-ateriality1 and these seven are the r0pa .orlds or .orlds o/ /or-; and o/ these seven1 as a
-atter o/ /act1 the three higher are relati4el& ar0pa or @/or-less@ ? to u!1 to our cognition1
please 0nderstand# The tr0ly ar0pa or so'called @/or-less@ or divine .orlds are the three
highest above these -ani/est seven1 th0s -a2ing the ten .orlds or planes or degrees#
,ny hierarchy has o/ co0rse its beginning and its end1 its Denith and its nadir1 its ac-e and its
gro0nd1 its highest and its lo.est1 the /irst and the tenth co0nting do.n.ards# %0t .hat is it
that connects this /irst and this tenth .ith the other hierarchies1 .ith the rest o/ the
contin00-; :hat is a hierarchy; $t is an individ0aliDed entity# This entity is co-posed1 in its
t0rn1 o/ hosts and -0ltit0des o/ s-aller or in/erior entities1 as -an8s body is an entity1 and yet
is co-posed o/ hosts o/ cells; and these cells again are entities1 and in their t0rn are
co-posed o/ -olec0les and o/ ato-s; and the ato-s in their t0rn are co-posite things; and
yet they all live together1 and /0nction together1 every one o/ the- co--on to a hierarchy1
.ithin other hierarchies1 and all interrelated and interloc2ing# %0t each one o/ these
hierarchies nevertheless has its o.n ac-e or s0--it and its nether pole1 its head and its
/oot1 its beginning and its end#
That .hich connects a hierarchy1 let 0s say at the ac-e or the beginning1 .ith the rest o/ the
contin00-1 is an inter-ediate or @critical@ plane parta2ing o/ the nat0re both o/ the hierarchy
beneath and o/ the hierarchy above it in the contin00-1 o/ .hich1 o/ co0rse1 it is a part# :ith
its /oot1 again1 it is connected on an e3tra or t.el/th plane1 another inter-ediate or @critical@
plane1 .ith the highest plane o/ the hierarchy .hich is beneath it or /ollo.s it# Th0s1 then1 .e
have a hierarchy consisting o/ ten1 al.ays ten1 degrees or stages or planes or /orces5 seven
-ani/est1 and three hid or occ0lt1 or -ystic ? it -atters not .hat .ord yo0 0se here; and
these ten principles or planes1 /or-ing a hierarchy1 are connected .ith the s0perior .orlds
and connected .ith the in/erior .orlds by t.o e3tra or inter-ediate planes1 one belo. and
one above1 each to each#
9et 0s no. ta2e 0p o0r -ain st0dy /ro- the point .here .e le/t it last .ee2# , very interesting
I0estion .as as2ed last .ee21 as to .hether o0r planetary chain /or-ed the seven principles
o/ the earth# ,nd the ans.er .as5 @They do not1 beca0se each one o/ the seven globes is
itsel/ a distinct and separate planet and is itsel/ a septenary#@ %0t the planetary chain /or-s a
hierarchy o/ globes# lease re-e-ber that hierarchy does not -ean any one partic0lar thing#
$t -eans any possible collection o/ entities to the n0-ber o/ ten1 .hich "or a unit&+ No0 .ill
recall ho. -0ch e-phasis .e laid in a /or-er st0dy 0pon the di//erences bet.een
a one/ aonad/ a unit&1 and a union+ $t .as stressed in anticipation o/ I0estions on st0dies
li2e o0r present s0b>ect# $/ .e have not these ele-entary ideas clear in o0r -inds1 there is
bo0nd to be con/0sion# , union is a -ore or less /ast or loose aggregate or asse-blage o/
diverse entities# , unit&1 as .e shall 0se it1 is a 0nion in .hich the bonds are so tight that it
/0nctions not as an asse-blage1 b0t as a single being1 as an individ0al# , hierarchy is
a unit&+ , onad is the root o/ a hierarchy1 a p0re and per-anent individ0al1 li2e the
characteristic li/e'center in a seed /ro- .hich a tree springs# The tree /0nctions as a unit&1
b0t i/ yo0 ta2e its individ0al leaves and branches1 and roots1 and consider it as a -ere
asse-blage1 it is only aunion# 6onsidered as an entity1 as a hierarchy o/ less lives1 s-aller
lives1 it is a unit&; and the spirit0al center or seed /ro- .hich it springs1 its ind.elling
characteristic s.abhava1 its pec0liar li/e'seed1 is the onad# ,nd the one is that 0lti-ate1
p0rest1 si-plest1 /or- o/ 2os-ic being .hich .e call divine1 and o/ .hich the old theologians
sang5 $n .hich there is no shado. o/ t0rning1 there is no -ani/estation or di//erences# $t is
p0re being1 as contrasted .ith di//erentiated s0bstance# $t is the one1 in .hich are no
opposites or no contrasts; p0re being1 p0re bliss1 p0re conscio0sness ? .hat the Upanishads
call !at1chit1ananda; beness'conscio0sness'bliss#
&o.1 then1 the planetary chain being a 0nity or a hierarchy1 /0nctions as a single entity1 and
is a single entity; it is coad0nated1 beca0se it is a 0nity; it is /or-ed into one thing# :hy;
%eca0se it is endo.ed .ith a so0l and a spirit /lo.ing /orth /ro- its generating -onad# $n
other .ords1 its conscio0sness is -onadic#
9et 0s read /ro- The Secret Doctrine/ vol0-e $1 page 1CC1 an e3tract as /ollo.s5
.ence it onl& !tand! to rea!on that the glo6e! which o4er!hadow our #arth u!t 6e on
di""erent and !u%erior %lane!+ 0n !hort/ a! 'lo6e!/ the& are in 64',=U&$T$4& 6ut not $&
64&SU%ST,&T$,9$TN :$TA 4UR E,RTA and thu!%ertain to Huite another !tate o"
con!ciou!ne!!+
6oad0nition1 or rather coad0nation1 the /or-ing into a 0nity1 does not -ean that the entity so
0nated is a single !nonco-posite" being in the ordinary pop0lar sense; other.ise its
co-ponent parts .o0ld not be con>oined in a 0nation# $t -eans that the coad0nated entity is
a 0nity or a hierarchy in the sa-e .ay that -an8s body is a 0nity and a hierarchy1 i/ .e
consider that body as the vehicle thro0gh .hich .or2s the ind.elling -onadic so0l o/ the
-an1 governing and controlling the hosts o/ s-aller lives o/ .hich the body is -ade#
&o. .e ta2e 0p the -ethod or process by .hich o0r -ani/est seven globes o/ the planetary
chain are evolved or @born1@ let 0s say# :hen the thrill o/ the inco-ing li/e'.aves ? consisting
o/ ten classes1 a/ter their long pralayic rest1 co-ing over /ro- the -oon'globe , that .as and
no. is not ? ina0g0rates the ne. earth'-anvantara1 those li/e'.aves begin to di//erentiate on
the plane o/ the globe , o/ the earth planetary chain to be1 and to gather into the-selves
-agnetically or gravitationally the hosts o/ li/e'ato-s belonging to that plane and .hich are
hanging in space1 and .hich have been trans-igrating d0ring the long pralayic rest o/ the
higher principles ? trans-igrating into other beings on that partic0lar plane and o0t o/ the-#
,nd here is the real -eaning o/ the ancient doctrine o/ trans-igration5 the li/e'ato-s .hich a
-an thro.s o// d0ring li/e1 and .hich his body at any -o-ent consists o/ d0ring his li/e1 and
.hich are le/t behind hi- a/ter his death1 and .hile he hi-sel/ is resting in devachan1
trans-igrate according to their respective nat0res; pass into and in/or- the beasts1 and the
vegetable .orld1 and the -ineral1 and the ele-ental ? the three ele-ental .orlds or
2ingdo-s; and si-ilarly those o/ his inter-ediate principles# %0t .hen that -an ret0rns to
incarnation1 passing thro0gh the vario0s planes do.n.ard into physical incarnation1 he
-a2es /or hi-sel/1 at /irst1 gar-ents o/ light /or-ed o/ his /or-er li/e'ato-s belonging to the
higher planes1 that is1 he gathers into hi-sel/ again the sa-e li/e'ato-s that he shed and
cast o// .hen he passed thro0gh those respective planes on his .ay @0p.ards@; and so1 on
each plane on his .ay do.n.ards into incarnation# Si-ilarly1 .hen he reaches this earth1 he
gathers the li/e'ato-s o/ this plane into hi-sel/ again1 not -erely by the -agnetic p0ll
0nconscio0sly to hi-sel/ active d0ring his antenatal li/e1 b0t even -ore so a/ter his birth# ,nd
so do these planets1 the vario0s globes o/ the vario0s planetary chains# The li/e'.aves gather
again to the-selves1 /or each globe in t0rn1 as they pass do.n and thro0gh the /o0r lo.er
planes o/ the 2os-os1 the li/e'ato-s that belonged respectively to the /or-er -oon'globes on
the /o0r lo.er planes1 .hich li/e'ato-s help to b0ild the ne. @physical@ globes or bodies o/
the ne. planetary chain to be1 .hich the inco-ing li/e'.aves or the seven principles o/ each
o/ the globes o/ the -oon that .as1 /or- and shape1 and in .hich they are no. to .or2 in the
ne. -anvantara#
:hat does each one o/ these globes o/ o0r planetary chain1 or any other chain1 consist o/; $t
consists o/ these li/e'ato-s1 %lu! the ind.elling vital /orces1 the li/e'.aves; and together they
act0ally constr0ct the globe1 andare that globe# 7an li2e.ise b0ilds his o.n body /ro- .ithin#
There are secrets even in n0trition that o0r scientists have not yet solved# 7an b0ilds his o.n
body o0t o/ hi-sel/1 as o/ten said be/ore# Ae /irst secretes1 and then e3cretes his vario0s
vehicles on the di//erent planes o/ his being# Ae e3cretes his o.n body and bodies or
vehicles /ro- the secretions that co-e /ro- .ithin hi-sel/# ,nd the globes o/ o0r chain are
b0ilt in precisely the sa-e .ay#
:e have passed brie/ly 0nder consideration1 in other st0dies1 the three ele-ental 2ingdo-s
as regards their .or2 in /or-ing globe , o/ o0r chain# 9et 0s no. ret0rn to that# The
ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 has /inished its .or21 let 0s say1 on .hat is no. the /irst /o0ndation
o/ globe ,# That globe1 there/ore1 has beg0n to ta2e /or-# $t is one'seventh !or one'tenth"
/or-ed1 /or-ed to the e3tent o/ the range o/ the /irst ele-ental 2ingdo-# That /irst ele-ental
2ingdo- has no. passed thro0gh its seven periods o/ .or21 o/ evol0tion1 and then goes into
obsc0ration ? one o/ 7r# Sinnett8s .ords# , /ar better .ord .o0ld have
been doranc& or !lee%/ beca0se this .ord obsc0ration act0ally rather obsc0res the sense#
, -an is not obsc0red .hen he sleeps# The body -ay be so1 in a sense; b0t it is better
act0ally to state in -ore appropriate .ords >0st .hat the real condition is# $t is that o/ sleep1 or
latency ? o/ dor-ancy1 rather#
%0t .hat happens no.; $nstantly that ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 goes into dor-ancy1
ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 2 begins its .or2 on the /o0ndation >0st laid /or it by ele-ental
2ingdo- no# 1# 7ean.hile1 the s0rpl0s o/ li/e o/ ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 passes on to globe
%1 and lays there the /irst /o0ndation o/ globe % as it did /or globe ,# &o. .hat do .e -ean
by the @s0rpl0s o/ li/e1@ and .hat1 /0rther-ore1 is it that is le/t behind as the sishta or
re-ainder1 o/ the ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 no. dor-ant on globe ,; !&evertheless1 the
active li/e o/ the li/e'.aves1 a part o/ it1 passes on and /or-s the beginning o/ globe %#" :hat
is the s0rpl0s o/ li/e1 then; S0rpl0s o/ li/e1 as here 0sed1 is that to .hich .e all0ded a /e.
-o-ents ago1 .hen .e spo2e o/ the un"olding or unrolling o/ the ele-ents .hich1 be/ore
-ani/estation1 are involved in each other# This !ur%lu! o" li"e contained or involved in the
ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 11 on globe ,1 is the 42 %rinci%le! o" all the other !i@ glo6e! o/ the
-ani/est seven1 as regards the /irst ele-ental 2ingdo-1 en.rapped1 en/olded1 involved and
dor-ant therein1 so to say1 and not yet ready to -ani/est1 beca0se o/ not being appropriate
and /it /or globe ,1 and there/ore spo2en o/ as sleeping1 re!ting in the boso- o/ ele-ental
2ingdo- no# 11 b0t -ore tr0th/0lly o4er!hadowing it and in/illing it .ith li/e1 .ith the *2 @/ires#@
,s this s0rpl0s o/ li/e is 0n/olded1 or evolved1 sleeping spheres1 sleeping /orces or potencies
? .hich are really the overshado.ing *2 /ires ? pass do.n to the plane belo. as s0rpl0s o/
li/e1 the passing @do.n@ being d0e to the gravitational attraction or p0ll o/ the lo.er plane1 as
/elt by their in/erior !wa6ha4a or inherent characteri!tic+ Aence1 as soon as they to0ch their
o.n real-s1 so to say1 the sleeping /ires o/ the li/e'.aves belonging by nat0re to those
real-s begin to a.a2en1 the li/e'.aves appropriate and belonging to that plane begin to
.or21 and the ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 on glo6e 9 begins its li/e cycle#
9et 0s go bac2 to globe ,# :hen the ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 2 has /inished its .or2 on globe
,1 i#e#1 .hen it has r0n thro0gh its seven stoc2'races on globe ,1 then ele-ental 2ingdo- no#
3 steps in as did no# 21 a/ter no# 1# $--ediately there0pon the gravitational p0ll on no# 21 a/ter
that ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 2 on globe , has gone into dor-ancy1 dra.s that s0rpl0s o/ li/e in
ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 2 do.n to globe %1 .here i--ediately no# 2 on globe % begins to
a.a2en and to .or21 and to gather in the li/e'ato-s 6elonging to it on that %lane+ Th0s1 on
globe , .e have ele-ental 2ingdo-s 1 and 2 in dor-ancy1 and no# 3 .or2ing o0tit! li/e cycle
on globe ,# Ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 11 .hen it has /inished its seven/old co0rse o/ .or2 on
globe %1 passes si-ilarly on to globe 6 and begins to /or- it; .hile no# 2 coincidently is
entering on its .or2 on globe %; and no# 3 is on globe ,1 as said#
Th0s1 then1 at the present stage .e have ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 beginning its .or2 on
globe 6; ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 in obsc0ration on globe %1 .here no# 2 is active; ele-ental
2ingdo-s nos# 1 and 2 asleep1 and ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 3 active on globe ,# ,/ter it! ? no#
38s ? li/e cycle is co-pleted on globe ,1 then co-es the /o0rth or -ineral 2ingdo- on globe
,1 and there does precisely as did its predecessors1 ele-ental 2ingdo-s nos# 11 21 and 31
i#e#1 it r0ns thro0gh its seven/old stoc2'race or co0rse on globe ,# ,nd instantly that this is
/inished1 the -ineral 2ingdo- enters into dor-ancy or sleep or obsc0ration on globe ,1 and
the vegetable 2ingdo- begins to appear there# 7ean.hile1 .hen that happens1 the -ineral
2ingdo- passes do.n to globe %1 /ollo.ing the sa-e r0le or operation or /0nction o/ nat0re
as did the preceding 2ingdo-s or li/e'.aves# ,s the vegetable 2ingdo- appears on globe ,1
ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 3 passes on to globe 6# &o# 2 passes on to globe =1 o0r earth; and
no# 1 then passes on to globe E# Then1 on globe ,1 appears the ani-al 2ingdo-; and .hen it
has r0n thro0gh its seven/old co0rse it passes do.n to globe %1 and coincidently each o/ the
/ive preceding 2ingdo-s or li/e'.aves -a2es a step /or.ard to the ne3t globe# Then1 /inally1
co-es the 7th1 the h0-an 2ingdo-1 on globe ,# So that .hen the h0-an on globe ,
appears1 the /irst ele-ental 2ingdo- is beginning its .or2 on globe B ? the last o/ the
-ani/est seven# Th0s1 step by step1 one 2ingdo- or li/e'.ave /ollo.ing the other in turn1 the
seven li/e'.aves pass /ro- globe , to globe B thro0gh all the inter-ediate globes; b0t .hen
the 7th or h0-an 2ingdo- reaches globe B1 the other 2ingdo-s are also respectively
co-pleting their evol0tion there; the reason being the la. o/ retardation operating to slo. 0p
the progress o/ the in/erior 2ingdo-s on the 0p.ard arc1 beca0se these in/erior 2ingdo-s
ascend thro0gh the globes on the 0p.ard arc .ith -ore di//ic0lty than the higher and -ore
evolved 2ingdo-s# The drag o/ -atter holds the- bac2#
This is the /irst chain'ro0nd# Fro- the second chain'ro0nd on1 the process is di//erent1 and
.e shall have to st0dy that di//erence in detail ne3t .ee21 perhaps1 or at a later -eeting#
7ean.hile1 please get this clear# The -arch o/ the li/e'.aves thro0gh the spheres represents
one detail o/ the circ0lations o/ the 2os-os ? the passing o/ the li/e'entities /ro- sphere to
sphere# F0rther-ore1 .e have been spea2ing -ostly o/ globe ,; and there/ore .hen .e say
-ineral and vegetable and ani-al and h0-an1 .e do not -ean those things a! we 2now
the on earth toda&/ on this globe = in this /o0rth ro0nd1 in their already -ore or less evolved
condition no.# :e are spea2ing o/ the "ir!t ro0nd o/ and thro0gh the "ir!t planet1 or globe ,;
and those 2ingdo-s as they then .ere .o0ld be to o0r present perceptions1 even at their
/0llest develop-ent on globe , d0ring the /irst ro0nd1 the -ere /il-y and invisible and .holly
i-per/ect present-ents o/ .hat they are to be in the /0t0re ? i#e#1 they .o0ld see- to 0s to
be spirit0al entities# ,nd yet to their o.n globe1 and to the-selves1 even in that /irst ro0nd
and on that /irst globe ,1 they .ere as physical as o0r globe is no. to 0s1 and .e are to each
other#
,t o0r last -eeting1 yo0 .ill re-e-ber that .e disc0ssed the I0estion5 :hat is the basis o/
proo/ 0pon .hich o0r esoteric teachings rest; :hence ca-e they1 and ho. old are they; 9et
0s ta2e the /irst part o/ this I0estion5 @:hat is the basis o/ proo/;@ The ans.er to that is
si-ple# The basis o/ proo/ is the operations and /0nctions o/ 0niversal nat0re1 as .e have
repeatedly said# %y nat0re .e -ean not physical nat0re alone1 b0t all that is1 inner and o0ter1
higher and lo.er ? everything; /or that is tr0th1 that is1 the reality o/ being# &o. that is the
basis# Ao. do .e gain an 0nderstanding and a 2no.ledge o/ these things and /acts o/
0niversal nat0re; So /ar as the 0nderstanding is concerned1 the arg0-ent in proo/ is
presented on the sa-e gro0nds on .hich any /act or tr0th o/ nat0re is presented and by an
appeal to intelligence and co--on sense#
@Science@ in o0r days is a .ord to s.ear by# 6all a thing scienti/ic and people .ill s.allo. it
.itho0t -0ch pretense o/ close analysis# $t does not -atter -0ch to the average -an
.hether the scienti/ic allegation be tr0e or not per se# Ae rarely e3a-ines it# $t -ay be a
@scienti/ic /act@ today; and then to-orro. it is replaced by so-e other @scienti/ic /act#@ &o -en
in the .orld1 $ vent0re to say1 have -ore real reverence /or tr0e science1 i#e#1 /or classi/ied
and coordinated 2nowledge1 than have o0rselves; b0t /or the theories and hypotheses o/
scienti/ic researchers .e have no -ore respect than those hypotheses are intrinsically .orth#
The day .hen science begins to dog-atiDe thro0gh its representatives1 it beco-es nothing
-ore than a pec0liar 2ind o/ ch0rch# $ 2no. o/ nothing that 2ills dog-atis- -ore I0ic2ly and
easily and nat0rally than these st0dies in o0r ancient .isdo-; /or the si-ple reason that no
sooner do .e 0nderstand one thing1 and thin2 that .e have seiDed a /inal tr0th1 than .e learn
/ro- the e3pansion o/ o0r /ac0lties and o0r 2no.ledge1 the very .holeso-e lesson that it is
b0t a baby8s introd0ction to a tr0th still -ore s0bli-e# :e learn that lesson very1 very I0ic2ly;
and i/ .e have any tendency to dog-atiDe or to .orship -ental idols o/ any 2ind1 that
tendency is I0ic2ly 2illed in 0s by /0rther st0dy#
Aere is o0r point5 as2 any scientist /or proo/ o/ one o/ the established theore-s o/ his
science; let 0s p0t it even -ore /orcibly1 /or proo/ o/ one o/ the -ore recondite /acts o/ nat0re1
and he .ill probably say to yo05 @:hen yo0 co-e to -e1 a/ter having p0rs0ed an adeI0ate
co0rse o/ st0dy1 and yo0r -ind has been disciplined to 0nderstand .hat yo0 are as2ing
abo0t1 then $ -ay be able better to aid yo01 /or then yo0 .ill be able to 0nderstand .hat $
shall have to say#@ ,nd the -an .o0ld be absol0tely right in giving s0ch an ans.er1 .hich is
e3actly in s0bstance .hat o0r Teachers tell 0s# That ans.er co-prises the basis o/ the
arg0-ent in proo/# :hen the I0estioner or aspirant is .illing to discipline hi-sel/ and to
st0dy1 not -erely to read1 b0t to give adeI0ate tho0ght and st0dy to the s0b>ect ? -ental
st0dy and -ental and -oral discipline1 incl0ding physical care /or the body1 and above all
else sho.ing deep spirit0al aspiration ? .hen he has th0s tr0ly disciplined hi-sel/1 beca0se
@discipline precedes the 7ysteries@; .hen his nat0re is th0s opened 0p and trained1 all
e3actly in principle as the scientist tells the inI0irer to do1 then he shall 2now1 /or1 as the
7asters tell 0s5 @9ive the li/e1 and ye shall 2no. the doctrine1 beca0se 2no.ledge .ill co-e to
yo0 nat0rally#@ ,nd this living the li/e1 let 0s say in passing1 -eans not -erely one thing1 it
does not -ean -erely -orality o/ se3 alone1 ho.ever i-portant that tr0ly is; it -eans1 i/
anything1 /ar -ore than that# $t -eans the /0ll training o/ the interior -an to be tr0e1 right1
clean1 aspiring; in other .ords1 the good old'/ashioned .ord righteo0sness1 acting rightly
beca0se yo0 are thin2ing rightly; beca0se s0ch training opens .ide the doors .ithin to the
light# The -an ? and .o-an1 too1 o/ co0rse ? .ho has envy or >ealo0sy or hatred or sel/ish
a-bition corroding his so0l1 or .ho no0rishes revenge in his heart1 or any other and all others
o/ these deniDens o/ the inner in/ernal regions1 these hellions o/ the inner -an1 is 0tterly 0n/it
to 0nderstand the doctrine; and /or a very si-ple reason# Ais intellect is be/0ddled and
beclo0ded# Ais psychic nat0re is thic2ened and rendered gross# Ais inner nat0re is c0t o//
/ro- its spirit0al s0n and its inspiration; and his very brain'-ind beco-es opaI0e to the
-illions o/ rays o/ the higher nat0re#
&o. these are old re/lections; .e all 2no. the-; .e have read the- ti-e and ti-e again# %0t
let 0s ta2e ho-e into o0r hearts this ill0stration5 >0st as the scientist tells his inI0irer1 :hen
yo0 have st0died and are prepared1 then co-e to -e1 and .e .ill begin investigation1 /or
then yo0 .ill be able to 0nderstand; so do o0r Teachers tell 0s# :hen yo0 are disciplined and
are ready1 .hen yo0 are prepared and trained1 then co-e to 0s and .e .ill investigate
nat0re8s secrets1 and yo0 .ill then have /irsthand proo/; beca0se yo0 yo0rsel/1 yo0r inner
nat0re1 .ill not -erely have been so I0ic2ened that 2no.ledge .ill co-e to yo0 nat0rally and
int0itionally1 and yo0 .ill 2no.1 b0t yo0r so0l1 or rather spirit'so0l1 thro0gh the -ethods o/
training o/ the ancient .isdo-1 and o/ the ancient schools1 .ill be sent into the very heart o/
being1 o/ 0niversal nat0re1 and yo0 .ill discover /irsthand 2no.ledge "or &our!el" ? a
2no.ledge that .ill end0re 0nchanged /or ayeK
This ans.er si-ply i-bodies /acts that .e all 2no.# 40r teachings are based on1 or rather
are the codi/ied e3pression1 the /or-0lated e3pression o/1 the "undaental o%eration! or
"unction! o" nature/ o" uni4er!al nature# The arg0-ent in proo/1 or the de-onstration1 ta2es
e3actly the sa-e /or-1 and rests 0pon e3actly the sa-e gro0nds1 as does the arg0-ent or
proo/ o/ a /act in nat0ral physical science# F0l/ill the conditions1 and yo0 .ill have the
2no.ledge1 says the one; and so says the other#
&o. as regards the whence# These teachings ca-e to the /irst conscio0s h0-an race on o0r
globe in this ro0nd /ro- se-idivine beings .ho bro0ght the- over /ro- a previo0s
-anvantara; and these se-idivine beings .ere once -en1 as .e no. are# These beings or
revealers are .hat .e shall in o0r t0rn be .hen the seven/old -anvantara o/ o0r planetary
chain shall have ended its co0rse; and .e shall then beco-e the teachers and instr0ctors on
the /0t0re planetary chain1 the child and o//spring o/ this chain1 o/ those vast hosts o/ less
progressed entities .ho are no. trailing along behind 0s on this chain#
This /or- o/ instr0ction .as /irst co--0nicated to the original thin2ing h0-an race by direct
passing; and then1 as ti-e .ent on1 and the races o/ -en san2 -ore deeply into -atter1
there .ere established leaders o/ the people1 priest'2ings o/ the so'called divine dynasties1 a
/act .hich .as the original so0rce o/ .hat has no. beco-e a -ere legend1 the so'called
divine right o/ 2ings1 .hich .as then an act0al /act# There .ere then tr0e priest'2ings1 leaders
o/ -en; spirit0al so0ls1 in other .ords1 conscio0sly .or2ing a-ong -en# Then1 still later1
.hen the races san2 still -ore deeply into -atter1 these priest'2ings1 great and noble beings1
geni0ses o/ the /irst .ater1 spirit0al l0-inaries in every sense1 .ere replaced by the priest'
colleges1 depositories o/ the pri-eval revelation; and then the 7ysteries .ere ina0g0rated1 to
.hich chosen ones .ere ta2en /ro- the -asses o/ the people /or initiation and /or spirit0al
and intellect0al training1 in an era still -ore engrossed in -atter#
This last happened at abo0t the -iddle period o/ the /o0rth root'race1 the race .hich
preceded o0rs; and this syste- o/ the 7ysteries has descended even to o0r o.n day#
%0t there is still one /act -ost di//ic0lt to e3plain1 b0t .hich -0st be gone into at least shortly
in order to co-plete o0r s0rvey; and that is1 that /ro- the very beginning o/ o0r ro0nd on this
earth1 /ro- the very beginning o/ the /irst race1 a race o/ e-pty and -entally senseless
@shells@ ? in the sense that the beasts are @shells1@ not being enlightened by the inner
intellect0al light1 the inner rays1 the -anasap0tras ? /ro- the very beginning o/ h0-an race'
li/e on this earth in this ro0nd certain entities1 o/ /ar higher grade than -an .ill be even aeons
0pon aeons hence1 had co-e to earth and had .atched over and g0ided the evol0tion o/ the
/irst and second and early third races# =0ring the third stoc2'race they created1 by the po.er
o/ .ill and yoga1 by 2riyasa2ti1 a -ystic body o/ high adepts and seers1 a body .hich is the
-ost secret and hid; and this body has /0nctioned and .or2ed even do.n to o0r o.n ti-es1
and it is .hat .e today call the 9odge o/ the 7asters1 its representative a-ong -en on earth
today# Those beings @created@ by .ill and yoga1 by 2riyaasa2ti1 .ere they .ho carried on the
-ystic 2no.ledge1 the .isdo- o/ the gods1 /ro- age to age d0ring the aeons that dropped1
one a/ter the other1 into the bac2gro0nd o/ the past1 passing that 2no.ledge on to their
s0ccessors in t0rn1 0ntil it at present has reached o0r o.n day#
9et 0s leave this1 and ta2e 0p the third point o/ I0ery# Ao. old is the esoteric .isdo-; :e
have already ans.ered that I0estion in the /oregoing observations; b0t .e -ight add this1
that its age is inco-p0table per se ? it is1 rather1 agele!!+ 6an yo0 tell -e1 please1 ho. old
are the /0nctions and operations o/ 0niversal nat0re; Tell -e that1 and then $ .ill tell yo0 bo.
old the ancient .isdo- isK $t is ageless# This .isdo- o/ 0niversal nat0re1 the reality o/ being1
is the sa-e to an inhabitant o/ a planet circling aro0nd Siri0s or any other great or s-all star1
as it is to 0s# $t is that .isdo- .hich is in o0r day tr0ly called theosophy1 god'.isdo-1 the
.isdo- o/ the gods ? that .hich they the-selves st0dy1 .e -ay say#
There .as another I0estion .hich ca-e in a letter1 and it all0des to .hat is an apparent
-is0nderstanding .ith regard to the planet 7ars# This I0estioner see-s to have
-is0nderstood1 or at least to be dist0rbed by1 the /act that the planet 7ars .as rec2oned as
one o/ the planets overseeing one o/ the globes on the ascending chain o/ o0r syste-; in
other .ords1 the si3th globe o/ the -ani/est seven o/ o0r chain1 and also as overseeing one
o/ the globes o/ the hid /ive; and she as2s5 @:hy is this1 i/ 7ars represents the principle o/
desire or 2a-a;@ 9et 0s point o0t /irst that .e are not all0ding to the physical planet 7ars#
:e are all0ding to the hierarchy 7ars1 .hen .e spea2 o/ it as being the overseer or
controller o/ t.o o/ o0r t.elve globes#
F0rther-ore1 as representing the principle o/ 2a-a or desire1 please bear in -ind that 7ars
is also a septenary; that it has its o.n seven1 ten1 or t.elve globes1 and that these globes are
divine1 and spirit0al1 and psychic1 and one o/ the- physical1 as is o0r globe earth# =esire is
d0al# There is a divine desire as .ell as an evil desire# :hat is aspiration1 /or instance;
4bvio0sly1 the globes correspond in the 7artian chain to those .hich it a//ects in o0r chain1
and it e3ercises on the globes o/ those t.o planes a corresponding in/l0ence1 a noble one#
:hence co-es that i-p0lse in a -an8s nat0re .hich -a2es hi- eagerly desire to do good;
Nes1 re-e-ber the old Bree2 cos-ogonic -ythos1 that the /irst divinity to stir in the boso- o/
6haos1 .as Eros1 divine desire# Everything has its opposite1 desire incl0ded#
,nd this I0estioner /0rther as2s abo0t 7ars1 7erc0ry1 and the @/o0r other planets1@ I0oting A#
# %lavats2y that they @bear a relation to Earth1 o/ .hich no -aster or high 4cc0ltist .ill ever
spea21 -0ch less e3plain the nat0re#@ %0t $ -ight say this1 perhaps1 that this special
septenary represents a partic0lar gro0p .hose /0nction is to act in b0ilding another planetary
chain#
There is another I0estion that has been as2ed on the s0b>ect o/ -an8s entire inner
constit0tion5 .hether this is also t.elve/old1 as is the co-plete constit0tion o/ the planetary
chain# :e have said that -an has seven -ani/est principles1 .hich -a2e o/ hi- a co-plete
-an# Ae also has three higher principles .hich1 .hen they beco-e -ani/est in hi-1 -a2e o/
hi- a divine being1 a dhyan'chohan# $n addition to all these1 he has t.o -ore @lin2s#@ $ have
avoided spea2ing o/ the- as @principles1@ in order to avoid creating con/0sion# %0t he has t.o
-ore lin2s ? one in his higher nat0re1 and one beneath hi- ? along one or the other o/ .hich
it is his destiny to travel# &o. yo0 -ay call these t.o e3tra lin2s principles i/ yo0 li2e# $ do not
thin2 that they sho0ld be so called beca0se -an is a sel/'conscio0s hierarchy# Ais entire
nat0re is a denary1 or co-posed o/ ten /0nda-ental principles; and really this higher lin2 is
the root by .hich he is rooted into divinity# $t is so high above hi-1 that to say that it is one o/
-an8s principles so0nds to -e li2e a desecration o/ tho0ght1 or a blasphe-y#
4n the other hand1 in the nadir o/ his being1 beneath hi-1 he has the other lin21 or the t.el/th1
i/ yo0 li2e1 co0nting do.n.ards# This other lin21 this other body or /ield o/ -atter or /orce1 or
both1 or /orce'-atter or energy's0bstance1 along .hich it -ay be his a./0l destiny to travel1
is his lin2 .ith absol0te -atter1 and is the opposite o/ his divine root#
The /0rther I0estion co-es 0p5 6an yo0 call these t.o lin2s principles or not; $ can only say
that i/ yo0 call the- principles1 then -an8s t.elve principles correspond in a general .ay
each to each to the t.elve globes o/ o0r chain# %0t other.ise .e -ay say this1 that the /irst
!or the last" o/ these t.elve globes sy-boliDes -an8s lin2 .ith the divine; and o0r earth'globe1
the lo.est in the diagra- on page (7*1 .hich is the copy in gross -atter o/ the highest globe1
is his lin2 going do.n.ards into absol0te -atter#
No0 re-e-ber .hat A# # %lavats2y says in one o/ her bea0ti/0l .or2s1The :oice o" the
Silence/ .here she spea2s o/ the @-en o/ 7yalba#@ &o.1 7yalba is o0r earth1 and it is also
called a hell# $t is so considered in the esoteric .isdo-; and .e have pointed o0t be/ore and
no. once -ore say in concl0ding this ans.er1 that o/ these hells so-e are described as
being I0ite pleasant and agreeable to the beings .ho inhabit the-; b0t to the beings .ho live
on the s0perior globes above the- they .o0ld be a./0l# The description o/ a globe as a hell
-0st be properly 0nderstood1 in order to get the -eaning o/ this tr0ly pro/o0nd /act# @Aell@
-eans the li-itations and sorro.s inevitable to spirit0al entities passing thro0gh a globe o/
gross -atter1 s0ch as o0r earth'globe is#
hapter Forty-$i&
The 6hela 9i/e# Seven and Ten 9i/e'.aves5 The 6o0rse o/ the 7onads aro0nd
the Seven Blobes; 9a.s o/ ,cceleration on the =o.n.ard and o/
Retardation on the Up.ard ,rc# Fi/th and Si3th Ro0nders# The Sacred
:ord#
There are -any sorts o/ chelas# There are lay chelas and probationary ones; accepted
chelas and those .ho are trying to /it the-selves to be even lay chelas# ,ny person can
constit0te hi-sel/ a lay chela1 /eeling s0re that he -ay never in this li/e conscio0sly hear
/ro- his g0ide# Then as to probationary chelas1 there is anin4aria6le r0le that they go
0pon seven years8 trial# These @trials@ do not re/er to /i3ed and stated tests1 b0t to all the
events o/ li/e and the bearing o/ the probationer in the-# There is no %lace to .hich
applicants can be re/erred .here their reI0est co0ld be -ade1 beca0se these -atters do
not relate to places and to o//icials5 this is an a//air o/ the inner nat0re#
:e 6ecoe chelas; .e obtain that position in reality beca0se o0r inner nat0re is to that
e3tent opened that it can and .ill ta2e 2no.ledge5 .e receive the g0erdon at the hands o/
the 9a.# ? :# G# E0dge1 <etter! That .a4e .el%ed Me/ pp# (*'(
@FerilyK it is this noble eight/old path; that is to say5 right vie.s; right aspirations; right
speech; right cond0ct; right livelihood; right e//ort; right -ind/0lness; and right
conte-plation#
@This1 4 %hi22h0s1 is that -iddle path1 avoiding these t.o e3tre-es1 discovered by the
Tatagata ? that path .hich opens the eyes1 and besto.s 0nderstanding1 .hich leads to
peace o/ -ind1 to the higher .isdo-1 to /0ll enlighten-ent1 to &irvanaK@ ? Dhaa1
*ha22a1$%a4attana1Sutta !7a3 70ller1 trans#"1 !The Sacred %oo2s o/ the East1 vol# 3i1
1*7'+"
See2 this .isdo- by doing service1 by strong search1 by I0estions1 and by h0-ility; the
.ise .ho see the tr0th .ill co--0nicate it 0nto thee1 and 2no.ing .hich tho0 shalt never
again /all into error1 # # # ? 9haga4ad1'ita/ ch# * !:# G# E0dge Recension"
9et loyalty and tr0th be para-o0nt .ith yo0# ? 6on/0ci0s
%e .hat yo0 love# Strive a/ter .hat yo0 /ind bea0ti/0l and high1 and let the rest go#
Aar-ony1 sacri/ice1 devotion5 ta2e these /or 2eynotes; e3press the- every.here and in
the highest possible .ay# ? :# G# E0dge
TAERE $S so-ething very bea0ti/0l and enco0raging in the tho0ght that the doctrines .hich
.e st0dy have been st0died .ith the sa-e devotion in other ages1 not only by learners s0ch
as .e are1 b0t by the greatest -inds o/ all ti-es; and1 /0rther-ore1 that these being the
doctrines o/ nat0re1 o/ 7other &at0re1 they are essentially the sa-e in all parts o/ the
bo0ndless spaces o/ the 2os-os1 so that 2indred thin2ers on the planets o/ other solar
syste-s st0dy the sa-e essential tho0ghts that .e do# ,s the -ind o/ -an gro.s in its
co-prehension o/ these .onder/0l doctrines1 as his -ind e3pands and his so0l gro.s greater
0nder the inspiriting rays o/ his inner spirit0al s0n1 he co-es to realiDe that the -ore he
learns1 the -ore does he 2no. that there are endless 2no.ledges ahead to learn; 0ntil1
/inally1 the st0dent reaches the point .here his .hole so0l is in/illed .ith a reverence and a
love and a devotion /or tr0th and his teachers that 2no. no li-its; and tr0ly1 that realiDation is
the -ainspring and the inspiration o/ .hat .e call the chela li/e#
$ have been hoping1 be/ore the present cycle o/ o0r st0dies is concl0ded1 to to0ch 0pon this
I0estion o/ the inner li/e o/ the st0dent1 the chela li/e1 beca0se $ 2no. nothing that is -ore
bea0ti/0l1 nothing that is so enco0raging1 and at the sa-e ti-e nothing that calls /or larger
e3ercise o/ the tr0ly spirit0al .ill and o/ the higher 0nderstanding than do the reI0ire-ents o/
so0l needed in order to /ollo. that chela li/e; beca0se that li/e calls o0t everything that a -an
has in hi-1 or a .o-an has in her ? everything# No0 -ay re-e-ber that A# # %lavats2y
so-e.here1 in /act in several places1 spea2s o/ the chela li/e as being very1 very bea0ti/0l1
and at other ti-es as being a @terrible@ thing# ,nd so it is1 and /or one si-ple reason .hich
.e shall -ention1 and then .e shall t0rn to o0r evening8s st0dy#
The reason is this5 bea0ti/0l .e 2no. it is# %0t .hy sho0ld it be @terrible@; %eca0se no sooner
does the st0dent set his /eet /inally and /ir-ly on that still s-all path1 .hich .e are told leads
to the very heart o/ the 0niverse1 than everything that is in his 2ar-a and that .o0ld /ind
e3pression thro0gh -any /0t0re lives perhaps1 co-es do.n 0pon hi- all at the sa-e ti-e1
-ore or less; and1 as A# # %lavats2y says1 to s0cceed reI0ires an in/le3ible .ill o/ iron and
an 0ndivided concentration o/ all his /ac0lties 0pon the great .or2# Ae -0st /ace1
and conHuer/ in one short li/eti-e perhaps1 the 2ar-ic /r0itages o/ bygone -ista2es and
/ail0res /alling 0pon his devoted so0l; all at once1 li2e horrible ghosts o/ the past# No0 can
i-agine .hat that -eansK Ae -0st /ace the-1 and conI0er# S0ch is the .or2ing o/ nat0re
and the 2ar-ic la.; and all aspirants -0st go thro0gh the trial# 40r Teachers as .ell as all
others have had to /ace 2ar-ic circ0-stances1 and conI0er the-; and these things have
been a p0DDle to the ignorant o0tside .orld1 .hich inevitably has -ost 0n>0stly bla-ed the
aspirant# $n A# # %lavats2y8s li/e1 to ta2e an instance1 there are passages .hich1 as anyone
.ho 2no.s o/ and .ho can 0nderstand the- aright .ill realiDe1 redo0nd in/initely to her
credit; b0t the ignorant and biased and cr0el .orld does not see the originating 2ar-ic ca0se
o/ past lives in those passages1 and bla-es her as having originated the- in this li/e as
@.ea2nesses@ in its blind vie.1 beca0se it does not 2no. o/ .hat these greater so0ls have to
/ace .hen their devoted /eet are /ollo.ing the path to glory and s0ccess ? @.or2ing o0t old
2ar-a1@ as the saying is#
$ thin2 that this is a very val0able tr0th .hich .e sho0ld care/0lly re/lect over; and to -e it has
al.ays been a very practical and -orally 0se/0l one1 beca0se it brings charity /or others into
o0r hearts1 a greater 2indliness1 and a greater realiDation o/ the nobility1 o/ the sel/'sacri/ice1
o/ those .ho tread this path ? not "or the!el4e! b0t "or u!/ a path .hich yet is p0re >oy; it is
absol0tely so; b0t1 on the other hand1 0ntil the /inal victories have been .on1 and they -0st
be .on1 it is o/ten stre.n .ith pit/alls and s0rro0nded .ith circ0-stances .hich ca0se the
treader o/ that path to be grossly and cr0elly -is>0dged by the .orld1 .hich sees b0t
0nderstands not#
:e have been st0dying d0ring the last /e. evenings the doctrine o/ the planetary chains1 and
.e have arrived at the point .here .e are enabled to see ho. the vario0s planets o/ o0r
chain1 as ill0strating all the planetary chains1 ca-e into being as the o//'thro.ings o/ the li/e'
.aves co-ing do.n /ro- the rest to .hich they had gone .hen leaving the preceding
planetary chain at its pralaya1 or death#
&o. .hat do .e -ean .hen .e spea2 o/ li/e'.aves1 the seven ? or the ten; :e -ean the
collective hosts o/ the -onads; and in order to have a short and easy de/inition1 .hich
perhaps .ill best recall to o0r -inds .hat a -onad is1 let 0s call it1 i/ yo0 please1 a !%iritual
ego+ $t is1 in /act1 a conscio0sness'center1 being in the spirit0al real-s o/ the 0niversal li/e
.hat the li/e'ato-s are in the lo.er planes o/ /or-# &o. these -onads and li/e'ato-s
collectively are the seven !or ten" li/e'.aves ? these -onads .ith the li/e'ato-s in and
thro0gh .hich they .or2; these li/e'ato-s having re-ained ? .hen the /or-er planetary
chain .ent into pralaya ? in space as 2os-ic d0st on the physical plane1 and as
corresponding li/e'ato-s or li/e'spec2s o/ di//erentiated -atter on the inter-ediate planes
above the physical#
40t o/ the .or2ing o/ the -onads as they co-e do.n into -atter ? or rather thro0gh and by
the -onadic rays per-eating the lo.er planes o/ -atter ? are the globes b0ilded5 partly o0t
o/ the s0bstance o/ the -onads the-selves1 thro.n o0t /ro- the-selves; and partly /ro- the
ingathering o/ the li/e'ato-s -agnetically attracted to the inco-ing -onadic li/e'.aves1 /or
these are the sa-e li/e'ato-s that /or-ed the vario0s vehicles o/ those identical -onads in
the preceding planetary chain1 and there/ore are no. attracted to the- again# These li/e'
ato-s had re-ained behind1 .hen that /or-er chain died1 on each o/ the vario0s planes5 the
physical1 the astral1 the psychic1 the intellect0al1 the I0asi'spirit0al1 the spirit0al1 and the
divine; /or all these planes or .orlds have their vario0s li/e'ato-s !or b0ilding bric2s" thro0gh
and in .hich these spirit0al egos or -onads .or2#
:e have already e3plained the b0ilding o/ the globe ,1 the /irst on the do.n.ard arc o/ o0r
o.n planetary chain# 9et 0s brie/ly recapit0late# The seven !or ten" hosts o/ -onads1 or the
seven li/e'.aves1 consist o/ -onads in seven degrees o/ advance-ent /or each host1 or in
ten degrees1 i/ .e co0nt ten# 9et 0s say seven /or p0rposes o/ easy ill0stration# There/ore1
these seven -ain hosts .ith their seven s0bdivisions each1 co-prise the *9 @/ires1@ or the *9
s0bli/e'.aves1 .hich .or2 and /0nction thro0gh the globes o/ the planetary chain d0ring the
ro0nds a/ter they have b0ilded those globes# These seven -ain gro0ps or hosts or
hierarchies pertained each one to a respective one o/ the seven -ani/est globes o/ the
planetary chain that .as ? o/ the -oon in o0r case; and they b0ild each one the respective
ne. globe o/ the planetary chain that is or that .ill be ? o/ the earth in o0r case# Net all enter
into the .or2 o/ b0ilding each globe1 /or instance1 globe ,; and .hen globe , is b0ilded1 they
all enter into the .or2 o/ b0ilding globe %; and li2e.ise so .ith globes 6 and = and E and F
and B1 .hich are all o/ the -ani/est seven#
$n doing this .or2 o/ b0ilding1 /irst enter into the arena o/ activity1 as said be/ore1 the three
2ingdo-s o/ the ele-entals1 one 2ingdo- o/ .hich -ay perhaps be called a spirit0al
2ingdo-# The second 2ingdo- o/ the ele-entals .e -ay perhaps call a I0asi'spirit0al or
a2asic 2ingdo-; and the third ele-ental 2ingdo- is -0ch -ore -aterial1 i--ediately
preceding the -ineral .hich is the /o0rth 2ingdo-# The other li/e'.aves or the hosts or
hierarchies1 o0tside o/ these /o0r1 are those o/ the vegetable1 the beast or so'called ani-al1
and the h0-an; and then /inally above these seven are three other 2ingdo-s1 th0s /or-ing
ten; and these three highest are the 2ingdo-s o/ the dhyan'chohans1 the co-pleted or /0lly
evolved entities /ro- the preceding l0nar -anvantara# ,bo0t the- there is a -ost /ascinating
detailed st0dy1 .hich .e cannot go into tonight# $t has re/erence to the reason .hy these
partic0lar dhyan'chohans /ailed to attain /0ll dhyan'chohanship d0ring the l0nar -anvantara1
and there/ore .ere obliged to ta2e a hand in the b0ilding o/ the s0cceeding planetary chain1
that o/ o0r earth1 in .hich they act0ally /0nction1 ho.ever1 as the inspiring spirits1 the inspiring
gods1 so to say#
&o. then5 /irst enters ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 11 and /or-s the basis or lays the /o0ndation o/
globe ,# :hen it has r0n thro0gh its seven/old cycle1 .hen its seventh s0bcycle begins1 its
/irst s0bclass is attracted to the plane belo. in order to /or- the /o0ndation o/ globe % as it
had done that o/ globe ,# %0t it is the s0rpl0s o/ li/e .hich so descends# The act0al ele-ental
2ingdo- no# 1 belonging to globe , re-ains behind on globe , and goes into dor-ancy
there; .hereas the s0rpl0s o/ li/e .hich ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 had in its boso- !latent as it
.ere in globe ," is pro>ected o0t or attracted to that spot o/ 2os-os .hich is to develop into
globe %1 beca0se the -onads o/ this s0rpl0s o/ li/e belonged to globe % o/ the l0nar chain1 as
the -onads on globe , did to globe , o/ the l0nar chain# Then /ollo.s on globe ,1 ele-ental
2ingdo- no# 2; /ollo.ed in t0rn by all the other 2ingdo-s# ,s each ne. 2ingdo- enters globe
,1 a step /or.ard is ta2en by all the preceding 2ingdo-s1 each to its s0cceeding globe#
,/ter ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 2 ends its co0rse1 then on globe , /ollo.s ele-ental 2ingdo-
no# 3; and .hen its seventh s0b2ingdo- is r0nning its co0rse1 its /irst s0b2ingdo- is
pro>ected to globe %1 .hich also attracts the sa-e# 7ean.hile1 the /irst s0b2ingdo- on globe
% o/ no# 2 -oves to globe 6; and ele-ental 2ingdo- no# 1 passes to globe =; and so it is that
these 2ingdo-s /ollo. each other1 step by step1 globe a/ter globe1 0p to globe B#
Then on globe , co-es the -ineral 2ingdo-1 or .hat -ay be called the -ineral 2ingdo- on
s0ch a spirit0al globe as is globe ,# :e probably co0ld not conceive o/ its condition on globe
,1 /irst ro0nd1 in o0r %re!entcondition o/ e3istence here on globe =1 /o0rth ro0nd1 altho0gh .e
? o0r -onads ? passed thro0gh that condition on globe ,# :e o0rselves as -onads too2 a
part in that b0ilding o/ the -ineral on globe ,1 /irst ro0nd#
Each one o/ the 2ingdo-s on the several globes belo. globe ,1 .hen the -ineral 2ingdo-
enters globe ,1 no. each in its t0rn -oves a step /or.ard to the ne3t globe# Then appears
the vegetable 2ingdo- on globe ,1 and then the ani-al1 and then the h0-an# ,s each
/ollo.ing one appears1 each o/ the preceding 2ingdo-s1 each on its globe1 -oves one step
/or.ard to its ne3t globe; so that it .or2s o0t that .hen the /irst s0b2ingdo- o/ ele-ental
2ingdo- no# 1 reaches the last -ani/est globe1 or globe B1 the /irst s0b2ingdo- o/ the h0-an
!or .hat is the @h0-an@ /or globe ," reaches globe , and r0ns its co0rse there# Then /ollo.
on globe , the three highest 2ingdo-s1 the dhyan'chohanic1 b0t in a very pec0liar .ay; and it
.o0ld overload o0r -inds1 $ thin21 at the present ti-e1 to go into the details o/ that st0dy no.#
9et 0s get the -ain principles o/ the co0rse o/ the -onads aro0nd the seven globes clear
/irst#
:hen these seven 2ingdo-s ? /ro- ele-ental no# 1 to the h0-an ? have /inished their
evol0tion on globe , d0ring this /irst ro0nd1 globe , goes into .hat 7r# Sinnett called
obsc0ration1 that is1 into dor-ancy; it goes to sleep# Everything on it is no. dor-ant1 is
sleeping1 a.aiting the inco-ing o/ the li/e'.aves .hen ro0nd no# 2 begins# lease re-e-ber
that .e are no. st0dying ro0nd no# 1 only# %eginning .ith ro0nd no# 21 the process /ollo.ed
by the li/e'.aves thro0gh the seven globes changes# ,gain .hen the li/e'.aves have r0n
their /0ll seven/old co0rse1 or their seven stoc2'races or root'races on globe %1 then it in its
t0rn goes into dor-ancy or obsc0ration1 .hich is not %rala&a1 please# Technically not# $t -ay
be possible to call the state o/ dor-ancy by the na-e o/ pralaya in a general sense; b0t
pralaya really -eans disintegration and disappearance1 li2e that o/ death# %0t obsc0ration is
sleep; it is1 really1 dor-ancy# ,nd so is it .ith each one o/ these seven globes1 one a/ter the
other# :hen the /inal or rather the last representatives o/ the last stoc2'race1 i#e#1 o/ the last
li/e'.ave1 leave it1 each one in t0rn then goes to sleep or into dor-ancy#
%0t there is an interesting /act1 d0e to .hat the 7asters have called the la. o/ acceleration
operating on the do.n.ard arc1 and the la. o/ retardation operative on the 0p.ard arc# $t so
happens that the -ost evolved 2ingdo-s1 s0ch as the h0-an and the beast and the
vegetable1 pass thro0gh their vario0s cycles -ore I0ic2ly than do the yo0nger 2ingdo-s or
hosts o/ these seven li/e'.aves or hierarchies1 s0ch as the -ineral and the three ele-ental
2ingdo-s# These latter are yo0nger1 and have not been over the gro0nd be/ore; .hereas the
-ore evolved 2ingdo-s have to go over .hat is1 in a certain sense1 a -ore /a-iliar path ?
0n/a-iliar only in this respect1 that they are no. r0nning the ro0nd in anew planetary chain1
on and in and thro0gh a new plane or .orld o/ the 0niversal 2os-os#
Re-e-ber that there are seven planes o/ 2os-os1 ten really; b0t .e are no. 2eeping o0r
st0dy li-ited to the seven -ani/est planes# :ith each ne. planetary chain1 a ne. s0bdivision
o/ one o/ those seven .orlds or planes is entered 0pon1 /or this p0rpose5 to gain e3perience
in every .orld or plane that the 0niversal solar syste- o//ers the evolving entities o/ the li/e'
.aves# So that .hen seven /0ll chain'-anvantaras have been r0n thro0gh ? in other .ords1
.hen seven planetary chains have been lived thro0gh ? one co-plete plane o/ the 2os-os
has been traversed or e3perienced by the li/e'.aves1 and there then ens0es .hat is called a
solar pralaya# This is another deep s0b>ect .hich .e reserve /or /0t0re st0dy#
&o.1 then1 all the entities in o0r /irst ro0nd on o0r present planetary chain have reached
globe B1 the last o/ the -ani/est seven; the s-aller and in/erior and less evolved entities
having had -ore tro0ble and di//ic0lty in -a2ing the ro0te1 in r0nning the ro0nd1 on acco0nt
o/ having had less e3perience in /or-er great cycles# %0t as these less 2ingdo-s1 in/erior
2ingdo-s1 co-e do.n the arc o/ descent1 being -ore -atter'/0ll than the -ore evolved1 i#e#1
the older and there/ore -ore spirit0aliDed1 they r0n /aster than do these latter; and this is the
acceleration o/ the speed o/ develop-ent o/ the lo.er 2ingdo-s on the do.n.ard arc#
6onversely1 on the 0p.ard arc1 /ro- o0r globe = or the earth1 the rate o/ develop-ent is
reversed; the higher 2ingdo-s r0n /aster1 .hile there is /or those lo.er 2ingdo-s a la. o/
retardation5 acceleration /or the higher 2ingdo-s1 s0ch as the h0-an1 b0t a slo.ing do.n or
retardation /or the lo.er 2ingdo-s#
Aere is the reason .hy the process o/ evol0tion .or2s o0t as $ have tried to e3plain it5 .hen
all these seven hierarchies do /inally reach globe B d0ring this /irst ro0nd1 they reach it all
together1 that is to say1 they gather on that last globe B all together1 globe B being the last
globe o/ the -ani/est seven; and here they all /inish the /irst ro0nd si-0ltaneo0sly be/ore the
interplanetary nirvana begins#
,/ter this long interplanetary nirvana1 .hen it is ended1 then opens ro0nd 2 on globe ,1 and
ro0nd 2 is the e3e-plar1 or sets the e3a-ple1 o/ the evol0tionary process /or all the
s0cceeding /ive ro0nds1 seven ro0nds in all; and .hile1 indeed1 the sa-e general proced0re
or plan o/ evolving on each globe1 and /ro- globe to globe1 that .as /ollo.ed in the /irst
ro0nd still holds1 there is this i--ense di//erence5 that all the @ho0ses1@ the @tene-ents1@ 0sed
by the evolving entities in the second ro0nd .ere b0ilded d0ring the /irst ro0nd /or the-# They
are ready and a.aiting the inco-ing -onads1 as the sishtas1 the re-ainders1 o/ the /irst
ro0nd# So that the entities1 the host o/ -onads1 .hen they ret0rn to globe , and the other
globes o/ the chain /or the second ro0nd1 have b0t to step into and th0s a.a2en these
sleeping bodies or ho0ses1 each host passing into its o.n class1 instead o/ having to b0ild
ane. and go thro0gh the lo.est ho0ses or bodies 0p to the highest1 as .as the case in the
/irst ro0nd; /or each 2ingdo- no. enters into its o.n appropriate bodies evolved d0ring the
/irst ro0nd and no. .aiting /or the inco-ing -onads# ,nd so it is on each o/ the seven
globes o/ the planetary chain# :hen ro0nd 3 begins1 an identical proced0re is /ollo.ed; and
li2e.ise /or all s0cceeding ro0nds#
,nother i--ense di//erence1 already all0ded to1 is this ? that beginning .ith the second
ro0nd1 all the lines o/ evol0tion or activity no. having been laid1 and nothing having to be
instit0ted de no4o/ /ro- the gro0nd 0p1 as it .ere1 the progress o/ the li/e'.aves or
hierarchies is relatively /aster /or those .hich are the -ost evolved5 having this e//ect1 that
so-e s-aller hosts o/ -onads1 and individ0als too1 o0tr0n the others1 r0n thro0gh their
evol0tionary co0rse -0ch -ore rapidly1 and th0s o0tdistance or precede the general body o/
the seven evolving hierarchies1 so that1 /or instance1 .hen they leave o0r o.n globe =1 they
pass on ahead o/1 or be/ore1 the b0l2 o/ the advancing ar-y1 to globe E1 and then to globe F1
and /inally to B the last1 and then have their interplanetary nirvana ahead o/ their -ore slo.ly
evolving brothers; and ret0rn to globe , as advanced ro0nders# $n o0r case1 the case >0st
cited1 they .o0ld be /i/th ro0nders1 since o0r present ro0nd is the /o0rth# This is .hy .e have
/i/th ro0nders no. a-ong 0s1 altho0gh .e as a h0-an host are in o0r /o0rth ro0nd# ,s
regards the si3th ro0nders ? those .hose spirit0ality is so high1 and .hose innate capacity
acI0ired thro0gh long aeons o/ e3perience is so great that they o0tr0n even the /i/th ro0nders
? they are very1 very /e. in n0-ber# 40r Teachers tell 0s that Ba0ta-a the 9ord %0ddha is
the only "ull& de4elo%ed !i@th rounder in recorded history .ho has s0cceeded in attaining this
e3alted state1 and he only ? the noblest initiate in recorded history ? he only s0cceeded by
virt0e o/ a -ystery ? a pro/o0ndly esoteric process#
. . . . . . .
There re-ain a /e. scattered tho0ghts /or 0s to ta2e 0p be/ore .e leave o0r st0dy tonight#
First5 the seven so'called sacred planets are not all necessarily higher in degree or stage o/
evol0tion than is o0r earth'chain1 altho0gh they do indeed act0ally b0ild o0r earth'chain by
their s0pervision and g0iding in/l0ence as architects1 and by and thro0gh the /orces .hich
they lend to the evolving hierarchies or li/e'.aves belonging to o0r chain# So-e o/ the-1 o/
o0r seven sacred planets1 are act0ally lo.er than the earth is1 spirit0ally# 4thers are higher#
4thers again are higher in degree b0t less evolved in ti-e than .e are; that is to say1 they
are spirit0ally higher1 yet they are yo0nger in years# ,s1 /or instance1 a son is yo0nger in
years than is his /ather1 b0t it is I0ite possible that the gro.ing boy is1 spirit0ally spea2ing1 his
/ather8s s0perior; not necessarily so1 b0t it co0ld be so and o/ten is# Ba0ta-a the %0ddha is
an e3a-ple in point# Ae vastly o0tran2ed not -erely his o.n /a-ily1 b0t all h0-an beings
since his ti-e1 and also /or ages preceding his ti-e#
. . . . .
,s has been said1 the second ro0nd opened the ne. process o/ evol0tion /or the re-ainder
o/ the -anvantara o/ o0r planetary chain; and at o0r ne3t -eeting .e shall deal brie/ly .ith
this; and then .e shall t0rn to o0r o.n globe = and its evol0tionary history; beca0se it see-s
better to /ollo. the lines o/ st0dy laid do.n by A# # %lavats2y in The Secret Doctrine8 and1
a/ter having pointed o0t the general evol0tion o/ the planetary chain1 to co-e to o0r o.n
globe and specialiDe on it# $ts history holds all that .e can possibly -anage to st0dy and
0nderstand /or -onths to co-e; and this st0dy .ill1 o/ co0rse1 involve the st0dy o/ the seven
great stoc2'races or root'races o/ o0r globe d0ring this present /o0rth ro0nd#
. . . . .
$ have be/ore -e three I0estions# The /irst is as /ollo.s5
:hat is the tr0e esoteric e3planation o/ the physiological and psychic e//ect or in/l0ence
e3erted by the vibratory -ove-ent set in -otion by the so0nding o/ the :ord1 0pon the
cerebral or nervo0s centers o/ the h0-an body1 and is there any special1 de/inite -0sical
note .hich o0ght to be s0stained thro0gho0t the so0nding;
This I0estion .e are not enabled to ans.er in /0ll /or t.o reasons5 /irst1 interesting as it is1 it
does not bear 0pon the s0b>ect o/ o0r present st0dy; and the second reason is1 that a /0ll
ans.er to this very interesting I0estion .o0ld involve a virt0ally co-plete o0tline o/ practical
the0rgy1 and that1 o/ co0rse1 is i-possible here and no.# %0t .e -ight say this5 the -ain
thing is not so -0ch .hat -0sical note is so0nded1 as .hat is behind the so0nding# $/ the
so0nding is to be -erely a h0--ing1 or -a2ing a -0sical noise1 or a vocal e3ercise1 yo0
-ight as .ell be still; b0t i/ there is behind the so0nding the aspiration o/ the heart1 and the
0pli/ting o/ the -ind1 and the thro.ing o/ the .ill as a conscio0sly e3erted energy to
everything that is spirit0ally noble1 it -atters very little1 so /ar as .e are concerned1 on .hat
note the voice is so0nded# $t is .hat is aro0sed by .ill and -editation in the inner -an1 or
.hat the inner -an is enabled to give o0t1 that co0nts /or good; b0t this does not -ean that
the proper so0nding o/ this -ystic .ord cannot be done so as to prod0ce the -ost .onder/0l
e//ects# $t certainly can#
The ne3t I0estion is5
$s not o0r n0-ber 1) -ade o/ C and * instead o/ 7 and 3; The 0pper and lo.er globes
are connecting or transition globes1 as $ 0nderstand# :e have o/ten been told that this
earth is the real hell1 so to spea21 .hich is no. -ore co-prehensible# So-e beings1 $
0nderstand1 -ay have to travel lo.er1 .hich .o0ld -ean bac2.ard1 and this -0st be
connected .ith the -ystery o/ the -oon1 it .o0ld see-# $ sho0ld also i-agine that the
lo.er globe at least1 -0st have been /or-ed or evolved or co-po0nded di//erently /ro-
the others#
The ans.er to the last part o/ this I0estion is1 no# $t has not been evolved di//erently# ,s
regards @the 0pper and lo.er globes being connecting or transition globes1@ $ pres0-e the
person .ho sent this I0estion in -eant the u%%ero!t and lowe!t; in other .ords1 no# 1 and
o0r earth# They are so# The rest o/ the I0estion has already been ans.ered# The evolving
entities are ever traveling1 either lo.er or higher; and this is very tr0ly connected in one
direction very straitly .ith the @-ystery o/ the -oon@; b0t this is a s0b>ect .hich1 /or 0s at
least1 is and -0st re-ain absol0tely tab0 /or the present#
$ .ill in a /e. -o-ents dra. a diagra- .hich .ill ill0strate the I0estion o/ the C and *1 or 7
and 3# 7ean.hile1 .e .ill go on to the ne3t I0estion#
The -oon -0st also have had t.elve globes;
$t did#
,re possibly o0r present globes the ones .hich held this position /or the -oon;
They are1 yes1 in a sense; not the act0al %re!ent globes o/ o0r chain1 b0t their @privations1@ as
,ristotle .o0ld have said# That is to say1 those spirit0al'astral re-nants or types or i-ages
.hich the l0nar globes beca-e .hen they .ent into pralaya1 do reappear again .hen the
ne. planetary chain co-es into being1 and aro0nd the- are /or-ed1 as aro0nd a -odel1 the
12 globes o/ the earth'chain# The ans.er1 then1 is both yes and no; the 12 globes o/ the
-oon that .ere1 co-e o0t o/ @privation@ as types or -odels /or the 12 globes o/ the ne.
chain to be ? the earth'chain#
,nd those no. above 0s the ones .e shall ne3t 0se1 cli-bing as does the na0til0s1 .ho
@le/t the past year8s d.elling /or the ne.@;
$ do not /0lly1 perhaps1 0nderstand this part o/ the I0estion; beca0se1 obvio0sly1 .e shall 0se
ne3t all the globes on the ascending arc1 and o/ co0rse .e shall cli-b# Unless1 indeed1 the
I0estioner -eans1 perhaps1 three o/ the /ive hid globes1 the three on the ascending arc; in
.hich case the ans.er is the sa-e1 yes#
&o. .ith regard to the C and *1 or 7 and 3# $ -ight point o0t that it is I0ite possible
theoretically to divide these ten principles o/ -an or nat0re in vario0s .ays# $ have never
heard1 ho.ever1 o/ a division into C and *# $ do not see .hy it co0ld not be so divided; b0t $
have never heard o/ s0ch a division; and1 to /ollo. the old saying1 @:e have not so received
it1 and .e cannot so i-part it@ ? in s0bstance1 an old %0ddhist saying# %0t the division into 7
and 3 is a nat0ral division# There is a sharp separation bet.een the divine .orlds and the
.orlds o/ -ani/estation1 and this division into 7 and 3 sho.s it# %0t the best t.o divisions that
$ have ever heard o/ or seen o/ the 7 and 1) principles are this and one other1 as seen in this
/irst diagra-# Aere .e have an 0pper triangle !this diagra- is a sy-bol1 please 0nderstand1 a
sy-bolic diagra-"1 a triangle .ith its @horn@ pointing 0p.ards; then an inter-ediate sI0are
belo. it; and then a triangle .ith its horn pointing do.n.ards# These three /ig0res sho. the
ten innate or nat0ral principles o/ -an5 the divine triad; the inter-ediate I0aternary1 sho.ing
the personal or individ0al entity as a co-posite and co-plete @-an@; and the lo.er triangle
.ith its horn1 i/ yo0 li2e1 pointing do.n.ards#
&o. this is a very general diagra-1 b0t it does sho. ho. the ten ele-ent'principles /0nction5
the divine1 the p0rely -aterial1 and the inter-ediate I0aternary# %0t /or practical p0rposes1 $
thin2 the best .ay is to divide the ten principles o/ -an as sho.n by diagra- 2# First1 o/
co0rse1 is the 0pper or divine triangle1 a /ig0re .hich goes .itho0t saying# Then .e divide the
inter-ediate I0aternary into two duad!+ lease re-e-ber that this co-posite dra.ing is a
sy-bolic diagra- 0sed -erely /or p0rposes o/ ill0stration# Aere1 then1 .e have1 as be/ore1
the divine triad above; then the d0ad o/ the -onad1 so to say1 at-a'b0ddhi# Then the second
or personal or astral d0ad1 .hich is -anas and 2a-a# Then belo. is the inverted triangle
representative o/ the -ere vehicle1 the body ? that is to say1 the sth0la'sarira and the linga'
sarira and the pranas# The val0e o/ this division is1 that i/ yo0 st0dy it1 it .ill -ost ad-irably
ill0strate .hat happens to a -an post -orte-1 or a/ter death# This inter-ediate I0aternary
can be divided1 as said1 into these t.o d0ads1 .hich separate nat0rally a/ter death# They can
be separated even in li/e1 .itho0t a -an8s 2illing hi-sel/# :hen a -an dies1 the lo.er triangle
disperses1 si-ply goes to pieces# The psychological str0ggle a/ter death1 .hen the @second
death@ ens0es1 ta2es place bet.een this lo.er d0ad1 2a-a and -anas1 or 2a-a'-anas1 and
the -onad1 at-a'b0ddhi; and i/ the 0pper d0ad1 at-a'b0ddhi1 s0cceeds in ta2ing o0t /ro-
this lo.er d0ad all that is o/ good in it1 then the reincarnating ego has its stoc2 o/ e3perience
increased1 and its incarnation has not then been a /ail0re#
The lo.er d0ad li2e.ise is -ortal1 and /inally goes to pieces; b0t the -onad1 the 0pper d0ad1
is at last indra.n into the divine triangle1 into the three highest o/ the ten principles o/ -an1
and there it passes its post-orte- e3perience1 .hether it be devachan /or the ego o/
ordinary -en or nirvana /or the initiates#
hapter Forty-$even
Teacher and 0pil# ReI0isites o/ 6helaship#
@1# To the earnest =isciple his Teacher ta2es the place o/ Father and 7other# For1
.hereas they give hi- his body and its /ac0lties1 its li/e and cas0al /or-1 the Teacher
sho.s hi- ho. to develop the inner /ac0lties to the acI0isition o/ the Eternal :isdo-#
@2# To the =isciple each Fello.'=isciple beco-es a %rother and Sister1 a portion o/
hi-sel/1 /or his interests and aspirations are theirs1 his .el/are inter.oven .ith theirs1 his
progress helped or hindered by their intelligence1 -orality1 and behavior thro0gh the
inti-acy bro0ght abo0t by their co'discipleship#@ ? Fro- the %oo2 o/ =iscipline in the
Schools o/ =Dyan1 I0oted by A# # %lavats2y
The :$SE 4&ES tarry not in pleas0re'gro0nds o/ senses#
The :$SE 4&ES heed not the s.eet'tong0ed voices o/ ill0sion#
See2 /or hi- .ho is to give thee birth1 in the Aall o/ :isdo-1 the Aall .hich lies beyond1
.herein all shado.s are 0n2no.n1 and .here the light o/ tr0th shines .ith 0n/ading glory#
That .hich is 0ncreate abides in thee1 =isciple1 as it abides in that Aall# $/ tho0 .o0ld8st
reach it and blend the t.o1 tho0 -0st divest thysel/ o/ thy dar2 gar-ents o/ ill0sion# # # #
Tho0 canst not travel on the ath be/ore tho0 hast beco-e that ath itsel/# # # #
@U,=N,1 the choice is -ade1 $ thirst /or :isdo-# # # # Thy servant here is ready /or thy
g0idance#@
8Tis .ell1 Srava2a# repare thysel/1 /or tho0 .ilt have to travel on alone# The Teacher can
b0t point the .ay# The ath is one /or all1 the -eans to reach the goal -0st vary .ith the
ilgri-s# ? The :oice o" the Silence/ pp# 71 121 *(
:E ,RE B4$&B to interr0pt the reg0lar co0rse o/ o0r st0dies tonight in order to ta2e 0p a
s0b>ect .hich 0ndo0btedly is very dear to the hearts o/ all o/ 0s1 and 0pon .hich .e have
to0ched -ore or less brie/ly at di//erent ti-es5 that is to say1 the s0b>ect o/ the relationship
bet.een teacher and p0pil1 bet.een .hat the old Aind0s called the g0r0 and the chela# :e
are going to treat it /ro- o0r standpoint1 o/ co0rse; not as that relationship has been all too
o/ten -is0nderstood in di//erent co0ntries and at di//erent ti-es in those periods .hich lato
called periods o/ spirit0al barrenness# 40r age is one o/ s0ch periods or1 perhaps better1 is
>0st e-erging /ro- one; and yo0 all re-e-ber1 do0btless1 ho. in one o/ the -ost bea0ti/0l o/
the ancient Aind0 .ritings1 the 9haga4ad1'ita/ the 9ogos <rishna states that at s0ch periods
he incarnates ane. in order to save and establish the >0st and to overthro. the 0n>0st and
the .ic2ed ? /or the reestablish-ent o/ righteo0sness on earth#
This relationship is an e3tre-ely sacred one1 beca0se it is a tie .hich binds closely heart to
heart1 -ind to -ind; and1 according to the bea0ti/0l teachings o/ the ancient .isdo-1 the
preceptor1 the teacher1 the g0r01 the -aster ? call hi- or her by .hat na-e yo0 .ill ? acts as
the -id.i/e1 bringing to birth1 helping to bring into the active li/e o/ the disciple1 the hid part o/
the disciple1 the so0l o/ the -an# No0 re-e-ber that Socrates al.ays re/0sed to hear hi-sel/
called a teacher in the ordinary sense# %0t he said5 @$ a- a -id.i/e to yo0ng -en1 beca0se $
bring their so0ls to birth# $ help the inner being1 the inner -an1 to e3press hi-sel/#@ ,nd this is
e3actly the spirit0al relation that the teacher holds to the disciples1 to the p0pils1 to the chelas1
the learners1 the hearers ? call the- by .hat na-e yo0 .ill#
The idea is1 again1 that the latent spirit0al potencies in the -ind and heart o/ the learner shall
receive s0ch assistance as the teacher can give1 b0t it does not -ean that the teacher shall
do all the .or2 that the disciple hi-sel/ or hersel/ -0st do# &o child can be ta0ght to .al2
-erely by seeing its parents .al2; and no parent can eat /or its child1 or drin2 /or its child1 or
learn /or its child# The child -0st do these things itsel/# No0 -ay re-e-ber that A# #
%lavats2y /reI0ently points o0t that1 according to the old teachings1 the relationship o/
teacher and disciple is in/initely -ore sacred even than that o/ parent and child; beca0se1
.hile the parents give the body to the inco-ing so0l1 the teacher brings /orth that so0l itsel/
and teaches it to see1 and teaches it to 2no.1 and teaches it to beco-e .hat it is in its in-ost
being ? a divine thing#
&o. .e pointed o0t at o0r last -eeting that the so'called chela li/e1 or chela path1 .as a
bea0ti/0l one1 /0ll o/ >oy to its very end; ho.ever1 as a .arning1 lest s0ch an idea be ta2en in
a light or /rivolo0s -anner1 in a -anner not s0//iciently deeply 0nderstood1 .e endeavored
also to point o0t that it called /orth and needed everything noble and high in the learner or
disciple hi-sel/ or hersel/; /or the po.ers or /ac0lties o/ the higher sel/ -0st be bro0ght into
activity in order to attain and to hold those s0--its o/ intellect0al and spirit0al grande0r
.here the 7asters the-selves live# For that1 7asterhood1 is the end o/ discipleship; not1
ho.ever1 that this ideal sho0ld be set be/ore 0s -erely as an end to attain to as so-ething o/
bene/it /or one8s o.n sel/1 beca0se that very tho0ght is a sel/ish one and there/ore a
st0-bling on the path# $t is /or the individ0al8s bene/it1 o/ co0rse; yet the tr0e idea is that
everything and every /ac0lty that is in the -an or the .o-an1 in the so0l o/ either1 shall be
bro0ght o0t in the service o/ all h0-anity; /or this is the royal road1 the great royal
thoro0gh/are o/ sel/'conI0est# $t act0ally is /ar easier to /ollo. than is the path o/ sel/1 the
road o/ shado.s# ,nd1 as .e have o/ten said be/ore1 the path o/ light1 o/ sel/'conI0est and
gro.th1 leads to the very heart o/ being1 to the very heart o/ the 0niverse; beca0se1 as the
inner /ac0lties develop1 as they gro. and e3pand 0nder the inspiriting rays o/ the inner
spirit0al s0n1 they receive and co-prehend ne. 2no.ledges1 ta2e .ider and vaster insights
into the secret cha-bers o/ 7other &at0re# Each ne. insight1 each int0ition o/ great things1 in
its t0rn opens1 as it .ere1 ne. doors into cha-bers still -ore vast# The -ind 0nderta2es /irst
to 0nderstand; and1 /inally1 2no.s thro0gh i--ediate perception the realities o/ the 0niverse1
and this is 7asterhood; and beyond those great Teachers1 beyond the 7asters the-selves1
are still greater ones .ho /ollo. a path still -ore s0bli-eK
%0t every /ootstep along that path is a /ootstep ? no. please listen care/0lly and do not >0dge
be/ore yo0 hear the end ? is a /ootstep o/ sel/'sacri/ice1 sacri/ice >oy/0lly -ade o/ the lo.er
sel/8s egois-s; the noblest1 the -ost >oy/0l1 the -ost bea0ti/0l thing in the .orld1 beca0se it is
the giving 0p at each s0ch step o/ the shac2les o/ the lo.er or in/erior sel/ .ith its
-0ltit0dino0s li-itations1 in order to pass into a greater light# 6ooperation .ith others in the
great .or2 in that noble sense ? and .e -ean by the 0se o/ that .ord no -odern political
shibboleth .hatsoever ? the -ental and spirit0al cooperation not -erely bet.een teacher
and disciple1 b0t bet.een the disciples the-selves and all the hosts o/ the spirit0al beings o/
the 0niverse1 can co-e only .hen the lo.er sel/ish sel/ is 0tterly /orgotten; and it co-es in
e3act proportion as this in/erior sel/1 o0r personal ego1 is so /orgotten1 and the higher sel/
ta2es over the reins o/ o0r destiny#
:hat is o0r greatest li-itation; :hat is it that prevents 0s /ro- seeing not -erely tr0th itsel/1
b0t also into /0t0rity and into the past; :hat prevents 0s /ro- 2no.ing the secrets o/ being;
$t is the veils enshro0ding the personal sel/1 the concentration o/ o0r tho0ghts and ideas
aro0nd the individ0al1 aro0nd the personal1 egoic center# :e clasp these veils to o0r breast
and thereby .eave aro0nd 0s a .eb o/ -aya or ill0sion1 beca0se .e .ish /or personal
bene/its1 and .ill the-1 and .ant the-1 /or the lo.er sel/ish sel/#
The real process o/ gro.th is the e3act reverse o/ this# $t is the casting do.n o/ these idols o/
the personality1 the thro.ing a.ay o/ these inner veils1 so that the light -ay co-e in1 that
light and that peace1 .hich latter1 in the bea0ti/0l .ords o/ the 6hristian rit0al1 passeth all
0nderstanding o/ -en#
:hat are so-e o/ the reI0isites o/ chelaship; First1 perhaps1 devotion1 devotion to an ideal#
Aave /irst the ideal1 then be devoted to it1 /ollo. it al.ays# $t .ill reI0ire yo0r .ill /0lly in
e3ercise1 the spirit0al .ill# 6oincidently1 perhaps1 co-es d0ty# ,s2 any -an or .o-an .ho
sincerely has tried to /ollo. this path1 .hether d0ty be s0ch an easy thing1 and he .ill tell yo0
tr0ly that there is nothing li2e the right per/or-ance o/ d0ty1 .hich brings into the so0l s0ch
indescribable peace and rest# Thin2 o/ .hat it -eans to have nothing behind yo0 to 0ndo1 no
-ista2es o/ the personality .hich have to be re-edied1 recti/iedK ,nd this can be done1 and
easily done# $t can be acco-plished by /ollo.ing that still old path1 as the Upanishads p0t it1
.hich leads into the haven o/ eternal >oy1 eternal peace1 and to that en.rapping
conscio0sness o/ 0niversal presences and processes .hich to the nobler side o/ the intellect
is s0pre-e bliss#
6oincidently again .ith these t.o is the noble virt0e o/ loyalty# 6an any -an s0cceed in
anything 0nless he be tr0e; Fancy a -an 0nderta2ing a noble .or2 and being told to tr0st
neither hi-sel/ nor his /ello.sK Ao. is it possible to s0cceed .ith one8s o.n nat0re r0nning in
diverse directions1 his very heartstrings p0lled here and there1 hither and yon1 by the con/lict
o/ sel/ish desires and by the petty egois-s o/ his personality; $t cannot be done#
These principles o/ chelaship rest on no vag0e or 0ncertain /o0ndation1 b0t on the vast
e3periences o/ the h0-an race1 .hich any -an or .o-an can prove by loo2ing .ithin1
loo2ing into those /o0nts o/ spirit0al li/e1 crystal clear and pell0cid as the .ater o/ the
-o0ntain tarn; .here he -ay see1 as in the bea0ti/0l old -ythos o/ &arciss0s1 his o.n
re/lection1 the re/lection o/ his o.n divine sel/# That can never be done .hen and as long as
the -ind is covered .ith the d0st o/ its enshro0ding veils# $t is the d0st o/ sel/ish actions1 the
cravings o/ these petty egois-s1 the dist0rbed and 0ntranI0il s0r/ace o/ the -ind blo.n 0pon
by the .indy g0sts o/ passion1 .hich 0n/it it 0tterly to re/lect the higher sel/ ? the co-panion
o/ stars# That .hich re/lects the stars1 itsel/ -0st be in a sense starli2e; and only that .hich is
starli2e in the so0l can 0nderstand the lessons o/ the stars#
So /ar1 then1 as regards the teaching# %0t ho. abo0t the teacher; :hat -an .o0ld go 0pon
a ship captained by another -an in .ho- he had no con/idence at all; :hat -an .o0ld step
into an a0to-obile driven by another -an .ho- he 2ne. to be dr0n2en; , trite si-ile1 b0t a
very tr0e one1 and directly applicable to the case in point# :here1 then1 shall .e /ind these
teachers1 those in .ho- .e can place s0ch tr0st; :e can1 indeed1 learn so-ething /ro- the
boo2s1 the great script0res o/ the old'ti-e religions1 .ritten by great initiates# :e can learn
-0ch even /ro- their s0r/ace -eanings; b0t there is a 2ey .hich 0nloc2s still deeper
-eanings in those script0res1 and that 2ey can be i-parted alone by one .ho 2no.s1 a
teacher#
&o. .here shall .e /ind s0ch a teacher; , -o-ento0s I0estion1 one1 probably1 that is
as2ed1 .o0ld be as2ed1 rather1 by anyone .ho -ight hear 0s spea2ing as .e do#
The in!ignia aAe!tati!/ the @signs o/ spirit0al -a>esty1@ cannot be -ista2en# .a4e the in
&our own heart/ and &ou will 2now the when &ou !ee the+ ,nd yo0 can have the- in yo0r
o.n heart; and ho.; Si-ply /ollo. the noble old r0les o/ cond0ct# 9ive as ye sho0ld1 and ye
shall 2no. the tr0th1 beca0se ye shall see it; and1 as o0r Teachers add1 it .ill co-e to yo0
nat0rally; and yo0 .ill 2no. the teacher .hen yo0 see hi- or her1 and yo0 .ill also 2no.
better than to >0dge a teacher by s0per/icial appearances1 by the .ords o/ the day1 the day8s
-ere e3ercises and d0ties; having that light in yo0r o.n heart1 at least in so-e degree1 yo0
.ill perceive the 2indred rays in the heart o/ the teacher1 and 2no. hi-#
Therein lies the -eaning o/ the bea0ti/0l saying1 ascribed to Ees0s5 @$ a- the .ay1 the tr0th1
and the li/e1@ and it is tr0ly so1 beca0se no disciple1 no -an !or .o-an" desiro0s o/ leading a
better and a nobler li/e1 can p0t his /oot on that path 0ntil he hi-sel/ 6ecoe! it1 at least in
so-e degree#
No0 2no. that in olden ti-es there .ere seven !and ten" degrees o/ initiation# 9et 0s spea2
only o/ the seven# 4/ these seven degrees1 three consisted o/ teachings alone1 .hich /or-ed
the preparation1 the discipline1 -ental and spirit0al and psychic and physical; .hat the
Bree2s called the2athar!i! or @cleansing@; and .hen the disciple .as considered s0//iciently
cleansed1 p0ri/ied1 disciplined1 I0iet -entally1 tranI0il spirit0ally1 then he .as ta2en into the
/o0rth degree# ,nd this /o0rth degree li2e.ise consisted partly o/ teachings1 b0t also1 as .e
have pointed o0t be/ore1 in part o/ direct personal introd0ction1 by the old -ystical processes1
into the processes o/ the 0niverse1 by .hich tr0th .as gained by /irsthand personal
e3perience# $n other .ords1 to spea2 in plain ter-s1 his spirit'so0l1 his individ0al
conscio0sness1 .as assisted to pass into other planes and real-s o/ being1 and to 2no. and
to 0nderstand by the process o/ 6ecoingthe-# %eca0se a -an1 a -ind1 an 0nderstanding1
can grasp and see and thereby 2no. only those things .hich it it!el" i!+
Thin2 over those .ords1 they are /0ll o/ -eaning and tr0th# No0 can 0nderstand nothing that
is not in yo01 nothing# &o -an1 /or instance1 .ho is deprived o/ the -athe-atical /ac0lty can
0nderstand even the -ere ele-ents o/ -athe-atics# Aaving this -athe-atical /ac0lty .ithin
hi-sel/ he 0nderstands so-ething o/ the -eaning o/ the r0les o/ -athe-atics# &o -an can
0nderstand .hat right action is1 .hat devotion and d0ty and loyalty are1 0nless he has at
least so-ething in his o.n so0l o/ devotion and d0ty and loyalty; and the -ore he 2no.s o/
these bea0ti/0l I0alities the -ore he loves the-1 the -ore he .ishes to /ollo. the-; and in
/ollo.ing the-1 /ollo.ing the- al.ays /arther on1 he loves the- the -ore and the -ore#
These tr0ths living in yo0 lead yo0 /inally to a co-plete 0nderstanding o/ the hearts o/ yo0r
/ello. -en; giving yo0 an ability to read their characters1 an ability to 0nderstand the .oes
and tro0bles that they carry; and the po.er as .ell as the ability1 and the desire as .ell as
the po.er and the ability1 to replace those sorro.s and egois-s in the hearts o/ -en .ith >oy
and peace and love and good.ill#
That is the noble .or2 that is be/ore 0s; and that is the .or2 o/ the 7asters the-selves# No0
-ay re-e-ber that .hen 7r# Sinnett .as in correspondence1 thro0gh A# # %lavats2y and
t.o or three -ore o/ the chelas1 .ith the 7asters1 he .as told plainly that the last tr0ths1 even
o/ the li-ited sphere o/ esoteric 2no.ledge that it .as per-issible to give to hi-1 co0ld not be
i-parted to hi- beca0se1 as he hi-sel/ con/esses1 he had no right co-prehension o/ the
-eaning o/ 0niversal brotherhood1 and no love /or that noble tr0th# ,pparently1 his 0t-ost
0nderstanding o/ that s0bli-e tr0th .as a /or- o/ senti-ental 0nity1 or -erely a political
cooperation# Ae had1 apparently1 no sense o/ the -eaning inherent in the .ords1 the!%iritual
6rotherhood o" all 6eing! and1 partic0larly1 o/ the /act that all h0-an beings are lin2ed
together1 not -erely by the bonds o/ e-otional tho0ght or /eeling1 b0t by the very /abric o/ the
0niverse itsel/1 all -en1 as .ell as all beings1 springing /orth /ro- the inner and spirit0al s0n
o/ the 0niverse1 as its hosts o/ rays# :e all co-e /ro- one so0rce1 that spirit0al s0n1 and are
all b0ilded o/ the sa-e li/e'ato-s on all the vario0s planes# $t is this interior 0nity o/ being and
o/ conscio0sness1 as .ell as the e3terior 0nion o/ 0s all1 .hich enables 0s to grasp
intellect0ally and spirit0ally the -ysteries o/ the 0niverse; beca0se not -erely o0rselves and
o0r o.n /ello. h0-an beings1 b0t also all other things that are1 are children o/ the sa-e
parent1 great 7other &at0re1 in all her seven and ten planes or .orlds o/ being#
,/ter the /o0rth degree1 there /ollo.ed the /i/th and the si3th and the seventh initiations1 each
in t0rn1 and these consisted o/ teachings also; b0t -ore and -ore1 as the disciple
progressed1 .ere there developed in hi- the /ac0lties ? and he .as helped in this
develop-ent -ore and -ore largely as he advanced /arther ? there .ere developed in hi-
the /ac0lties1 still /arther and -ore deeply to penetrate beyond the veils o/ -aya or ill0sion;
0ntil1 having passed the seventh or last initiation o/ all o/ the @-ani/est@ initiations1 i/ .e -ay
call the- that1 he beca-e one o/ those tr0ly called !u%eren .ho- .e call the 7ahat-as1
great so0l'spirits1 .hose very nat0re is agnaniit& ? 0sed here in the old 9atin sense o/
@great so0ledness@ ? the .ord -eaning e3actly .hat ahata!hi% does in the Sans2rit#
9oyalty to the teacher1 devotion to the teacher1 the co-plete /0l/illing o/ all d0ties to the
teacher1 is the other side o/ this s0b>ect# =evotion1 d0ty1 and loyalty to tr0th and its behests1
on the one side1 0n/ailing1 0nchanging1 never varying; and the sa-e virt0es living in o0r so0ls
to.ards the teacher .ho- .e have chosen1 is the other side1 beca0se that teacher has given
0s inner light1 yea1 -ore1 has given 0s inner li/e1 inner li/e in a very real and practical sense1
and not -erely in a -ystical one; beca0se1 by the processes o/ the ancient schools1 s0ch a
teacher is enabled to carry the disciple1 i/ 0ninterr0pted in his st0dies1 even over the g0l/ o/
.hat -en call physical death; is enabled so to a.a2en the dor-ant po.ers o/ the spirit'so0l
in hi- that they /0nction as it .ere a0to-atically# The giver o/ inner light and the giver o/
inner li/e5 s0ch is the teacher# Ao. rarely is this recogniDed or even 2no.n in the 4ccident
today# This e3plains in part .hy the egoistic and so'called individ0alistic 4ccidental1 sel/'
satis/ied in his blind /olly1 h0rls against the devotion o/ teacher and p0pil o/ the ancient
Eastern schools1 the devotion o/ the disciples to their teacher and o/ the latter to the-1 s0ch
0n2indly and ins0lting epithets1 calling s0ch devotion -ental servit0de1 calling it -ental
s0bservience1 spea2ing o/ it in ter-s o/ -oc2ery1 proving1 as said be/ore1 that the critic
0nderstands it not1 beca0se that noble virt0e is not in his o.n so0l in the sense .e -ean#
Ao. great and /ar'reaching is his spirit0al lossK
There is so-ething so bea0ti/0l in devotion and loyalty and d0ty1 /aith/0lly carried o0t1 that all
nations o/ -en1 in all ti-es and in all co0ntries1 have placed those three I0alities o/ the so0l
in the very /ore/ront o/ -anly and .o-anly virt0es# $ vent0re to say that i/ .e /ollo. these
three noble virt0es /aith/0lly1 0ndis-ayed by the -any -ista2es that .e -ay -a2e1 and o0r
co0rage never da-pened by the /alls that .e -ay have1 b0t al.ays rising again to the battle
? $ vent0re to say that as ti-e goes on1 easier and easier1 s-oother and s-oother1 .ill
beco-e /or 0s the path o/ .isdo- and peace1 and ever -ore >oy/0l#
Fidelity is co-prised in these things# Se%er "ideli!/ r0ns the bea0ti/0l 9atin -otto1 @al.ays
/aith/0l@K :hat loveliness o/ tho0ght there is in thisK :hat -an or .o-an can /ail to despise
the .ea2ness in the .ea2ling1 the 0n/aith/0lness in the 0n/aith/0l oneK $ndeed1 s0ch -oral
obliI0ity is a h0-an characteristic; even the beasts have it not# Sho. -e an 0n/aith/0l beast#
$t is only in 0s -en that this petty vileness has its e3istence# ,nd .hat can .e learn /ro- this
little /act; Si-ply this1 that .e have1 in addition to the innate love o/ the beast /or its -aster1
the divine gi/t o/ sel/'conscio0s intellection1 .hich in too -any o/ 0s is .ea2ly allo.ed to
re-ain 0nc0ltivated and 0ndeveloped1 so that .e have b0t t.o or three /eeble gli--erings or
rays /ro- the spirit0al s0n1 so to say# ,nd these t.o or three or -ore /eeble gli--erings are
>0st eno0gh to p0t @sin1@ to 0se the old .ord1 into o0r hearts# They are >0st eno0gh to -a2e 0s
see and realiDe o0r sel/'i-portance1 b0t not eno0gh to -a2e 0s see the tr0th and o0r
inherent spirit0al brotherhood; and here is .here the h0-an being /ails and /alls ? the so'
called @secret o/ Satan#@
:hat1 then1 is the re-edy; 7ore light# :hat is the re-edy /or /olly; :isdo-# :hat is the
re-edy /or ignorance; 7ore 2no.ledge# :ith -ore light1 .ith the /looding o/ the inner nat0re
by the rays o/ the spirit0al s0n .ithin1 these /eeble gli--erings and rays gro. and e3pand1
0ntil /inally the .hole inner nat0re is del0ged .ith this .onder/0l inner light that the -ystics o/
all ages have tal2ed o/; and then 0n/aith/0lness beco-es i-possible1 0tterly i-possible# &o
-an .ill sit do.n1 childli2e1 and spend his ti-e casting 0p s0-s in si-ple addition ? t.o and
t.o -a2e /o0r# Ae has passed that childish stage# Ae goes to higher things; and he loo2s
0pon the 0n/aith/0lnesses and the /ailings o/ his less developed brothers .ith co-passion1
not .ith conde-nation o/ the .ea2ling hi-sel/# These .ea2lings are precisely li2e little
children .ith their s-all s0-s in arith-etic# They are precisely li2e -entally 0ndeveloped
people# They have only a /e. poor gli--erings or rays in the- o/ that glorio0s l0-inary
.ithin#
&o. there is the act0al psychologic /act# $t is not a /ig0re o/ speech or -etaphor# That is .hat
the cri-inal is in his inner nat0re5 $ -ean the really cri-inal -an or .o-an .ho chooses
evildoing /ro- love o/ it# That is .hat the poorly developed -an has in hi-5 >0st these poor
/eeble gli--erings o/ the inner s0n1 .hich are all that reach his 0ndeveloped -ind; >0st
eno0gh to -a2e hi- see so-ething1 and to recogniDe1 as he thin2s1 his o.n sel/'i-portance#
%0t .hen the greater light1 .hen the /looding1 the del0ging1 o/ the inner nat0re .ith the larger
ill0-ination co-es1 then .e see that all there is o/ 0s1 in the sense o/ this petty sel/1 is b0t a
re/lection o/ so-ething nobler; and all o0r nat0res1 o0r entire nat0res1 are opened1 .hen that
realiDation co-es1 to an alliance .ith this inner and higher and nobler sel/1 the spirit0al s0n o/
o0r inner being#
hapter Forty-Ei)ht
The Aeart o/ the Universe# The :ay to eace1 %liss1 Understanding1 $s :ithin#
The Breat G0est ! 5now Thysel# ! the 4hole $ecret o# 'nitiation. Our
Responsi0ility* Ethical 9alues and the +aws o# the Universe:
,ar(ony.
%ehold the tr0th be/ore yo05 a clean li/e1 an open -ind1 a p0re heart1 an eager intellect1 an
0nveiled spirit0al perception1 a brotherliness /or one8s co'disciple1 a readiness to give and
receive advice and instr0ction1 a loyal sense o/ d0ty to the Teacher1 a .illing obedience to
the behests o/ TRUTA1 once .e have placed o0r con/idence in1 and believe that Teacher
to be in possession o/ it; a co0rageo0s end0rance o/ personal in>0stice1 a brave
declaration o/ principles1 a valiant de/ence o/ those .ho are 0n>0stly attac2ed1 and a
constant eye to the ideal o/ h0-an progression and per/ection .hich the secret
science D'u%ta :id&aB depicts ? these are the golden stairs 0p the steps o/ .hich the
learner -ay cli-b to the Te-ple o/ =ivine :isdo-# ? Fro- the %oo2 o/ =iscipline in the
Schools o/ =Dyan1 I0oted by A# # %lavats2y
The ancient narro. path that stretches /ar a.ay
Aas been to0ched by -e1 has been /o0nd by -e#
%y it the .ise1 the 2no.ers o/ %rah-a1 go 0p
Aence to the heavenly .orld1 released# ? 9rihad1)ran&a2a 3%ani!had/ *1 *1 + !A0-e1
trans#"
The .ay to /inal /reedo- is .ithin thy Sel/#
That .ay begins and ends o0tside o/ Sel/# ? The :oice o" the Silence/ p# 39
The great secret is sy-pathy /or the so0ls o/ -en1 the .ill to press /or.ard to that .hich
is tr0e# ? <atherine Tingley
TA$S evening8s call /or a res0-ption o/ o0r esoteric st0dies .as in one sense 0ne3pected;
and instead o/ /ollo.ing the thread o/ o0r disco0rses .here they .ere le/t o//1 $ a- going to
as2 yo0 to co-e1 all o/ 0s together in tho0ght and in spirit1 into an at-osphere o/ -agical
bea0ty1 into an at-osphere .here the roots o/ o0r being live1 and .hence is dra.n the
s0stenance1 both spirit0al and intellect0al1 /ro- .hich the inter-ediate nat0re o/ -an1 and
also -an as he appears in the everyday a//airs o/ li/e1 /inds its no0rish-ent1 its g0idance1 and
its direction1 and all the /iner things .hich -a2e -an -an#
$n this spirit0al and intellect0al at-osphere1 $ re/er /irst to so-e ele-entary propositions o/
the ancient .isdo-1 the /irst o/ .hich is that all -en in their in-ost spirit0al essence are not
-erely in 2inship1 b0t in an 0tter and inseparable 0nion# This does not -ean that the hosts o/
-onads .ho are the spirit0al portions o/ -en1 one -onad to one -an1 are b0t one -onad;
b0t1 as yo0 all -0st 2no.1 it -eans that the -onads the-selves also have a spirit0al side1
and that that spirit0al side or nat0re o/ each one has its roots1 /inds its 0lti-ate /o0ntain o/
being1 in the transcendent divine in .hich .e live and -ove and have o0r being#
There/ore thro0gh each -onad1 i/ .e so .ill it1 r0n the strea-s o/ intellect0al o-niscience1
.hich strea-s are trans-itted to 0s even thro0gh the beclo0ding veils o/ the inter-ediate
nat0re; /or .e derive both that spirit0al li/e and that intellect0al o-niscience ? in other .ords1
bliss and p0re conscio0sness and p0re 0nderstanding ? /ro- the divine .hich is at the heart
or core o/ every -an and o/ every .o-an; yes1 and also at the heart and the core o/ the
beings beneath 0s1 tho0gh they as yet have not evolved the sensitive vehicle .hich can
translate those s0bli-e and s0pernal -ysteries into co-prehensible tho0ght'/or- thro0gh
their lac2 o/ the necessary organ o/ tho0ght1 .hich in the- has not yet e3pressed itsel/ as a
sel/'conscio0s /ac0lty#
The h0-an beings above 0s1 $ -ean those .ho are the chelas o/ the Teachers1 and the
Teachers the-selves1 and the Teachers o/ the Teachers1 are each one respectively a stage
nearer than the preceding class to that divine1 a degree or a step higher in the b0ddhic
hierarchy1 in the Aierarchy o/ 6o-passion#
9et 0s recollect that .e are the o0t-ost ran2 or ring o/ that b0ddhic Aierarchy o/
6o-passion1 and it depends 0pon each one o/ 0s1 not only 0pon the li/e that .e live1 b0t
0pon the ideas that .e hold inshrined in o0r -inds and in o0r hearts1 to ho. great a degree
.e -ay beco-e /aith/0l trans-itters and -ani/esters o/ the divine strea-s /ro- that s0pernal
so0rce# :hen .e can trans-it these in their native crystalline p0rity1 .hen o0r -inds beco-e
trans-itters so li-pid and clear1 so high in their aspirations and so 0nad0lterate in their
nat0res that .e can conscio0sly receive and pass on these li/e'giving strea-s1 the strea-s
o/ 0nderstanding /ro- the /o0ntain o/ the 0niversal li/e1 then indeed .e are saviors o/ -en1
saviors o/ o0r /ello.s; and this is the goal to .hich the Teachers call 0s#
For a/ter all1 is not this ai- the one .hich the Teachers have told 0s is the li/e.or2 o/
the-selves1 and sho0ld be the li/e.or2 o/ 0s at the present ti-e; $t is# $n so-e co0ntries they
spea2 o/ a 6hrist; in other co0ntries they spea2 o/ a %0ddha; else.here they spea2 o/ one
.ho has /o0nd the :ay1 the ath1 .ho has /o0nd Tao# ,nd in each case the re/erence is to
one .ho has so co-pletely s0bordinated his individ0ality to the 0niverse that he thereby
beco-es the /aith/0l trans-itter o/ the spirit0al li/e#
,ll these vario0s na-es and titles -ean the sa-e thing# :hat is this -eaning; $t is that the
-ind and the heart1 the 0nderstanding and the conscio0sness1 and there/ore the e3a-ple
and the li/e1 are all at one1 all in 0nity .or2ing along the sa-e path.ay leading to the s0bli-e
goal at .hich .e have hinted; and this li/e so led brings not only to the heart o/ each one o/
0s a peace and a >oy .hich pass all ordinary h0-an 0nderstanding1 b0t it li2e.ise enables 0s
to give that peace and that >oy to others#
$t is thro0gh and by the lessons that .e learn in o0r daily li/e that co-e to 0s the opport0nities
o/ setting o0r /eet 0pon this path.ay# ,s all o/ 0s 2no.1 the noblest ai- that .e can have is
to /it o0rselves /or this li/e.or2# &o.1 ho. is it done; $s it by loo2ing /or -ere -ysteries and
/or .eird tests and e3pected trials; :hat 2ind o/ a test or trial sho0ld s0ch be1 at a ti-e .hen
one is .ro0ght 0p to a pitch o/ e3altation and high e3pectation so that in a certain sense he is
te-porarily abnor-al and there/ore has a transitory b0t nevertheless an abnor-al strength to
-eet s0ch tests or trials# S0ch .o0ld hardly be tests or trials at all and hence .o0ld be o/
very little pro/it and very little .orth# The testing co-es in the a//airs o/ li/e that concern 0s
daily1 in the d0ties .hich .e per/or- /aith/0lly or perhaps 0n/aith/0lly1 in never leaving o0r
tas2 /or personal or sel/ish p0rposes; /or here .e are tested in every part o/ o0r being1 and at
every -o-ent1 and in the -ost 0ne3pected and -ost 0n/oreseen places1 and at the -ost
0ne3pected and -ost 0n/oreseen ti-es#
40r re>oicing passeth all ordinary co-prehension .hen one1 thro0gh long and /aith/0l service
and 0ns.erving devotion .hich leads to inner develop-ent1 .hich ta2es hi- /ar along the
path1 /ollo.s that still s-all path .hich leadeth to the heart o/ the 0niverse; /or .e /eel that
.hat he then has attained .e also -ay attain and sho0ld attain and -0st 0lti-ately attain i/
.e do as he did; it is a -atter /or >oy to all .hen this happens#
$ have >0st spo2en o/ the path.ay .hich leadeth to the heart o/ the 0niverse# &o. .hat is that
heart; $s it @Bod@; :hat god can .e conceive o/ .hich is not1 a/ter all1 the noblest /ig0ration
o/ o0r o.n i-agination; S0ch a god a/ter all .o0ld be b0t a na-e1 a breath1 and nothing
-ore1 /or it is a conception originating in o0r o.n -inds# :e do not -ean by the phrase1 @the
heart o/ the 0niverse1@ so-e divine being .ho a/ter all is b0t an aggregate1 a collection1 a
synthesiDed 0nity o/ the vario0s individ0als o/ the hierarchy o/ .hich it is the controlling head#
:e do not -ean this1 /or .hat sense .o0ld it have since these hierarchical heads are -ore
n0-ero0s than the sands on the shores o/ an in/inite ocean1 /or they are in/inite in n0-ber;
and ho. sho0ld any one s0ch be the heart o/ the 0niverse; &ay1 that is not o0r -eaning# :e
-ean by the heart o/ the 0niverse that conscio0sness1 that light1 that 0nderstanding1 that
nat0re .hose essence is bliss1 .hich is the li/e o/ the 0niverse ? not a personal li/e b0t an
i-personal li/e1 /ro- and thro0gh .hich the 0niverse dra.s the /orces .hich in/ill it1 .hich
/orces are the gods1 the spirit0al beings1 the playing o/ .hose vitality .e sense even thro0gh
the shell o/ the physical .orld1 and there/ro- ta2e the ter- so /a-iliar to 0s1 the /orces
.or2ing in -atter#
This conscio0sness1 this light1 this 0nderstanding1 this nat0re .hose essence is bliss1 are
collectively .hat .e -ean by the heart o/ the 0niverse1 a heart .hich is no.here in partic0lar1
beca0se every.here; called the @heart@ only beca0se it is the secret center in each one o/ 0s1
the core o/ o0r being1 and .hich is not only the so0rce b0t also the passage.ay1 or the canal1
or the channel1 thro0gh .hich those s0pernal /orces o/ the divine do pass into 0s; and1
red0ced to the last analysis1 .e are they and they are .e1 beca0se the recondite and secret
/o0ntains o/ o0r being are all these things#
No0 2no. the teaching o/ the old Eastern philosophy1 the Fedanta o/ Aind0stan1 .hich in this
respect is li2e.ise the teaching o/ &orthern %0ddhis-1 and is also o0rs1 to this e//ect5 the
0niverse is one vast organis-1 an organis- .hich is co-posite o/ organis-s still s-aller1 still
-ore -in0te1 not located in any partic0lar place b0t spread thro0gho0t the spaces1
inde/initely in all directions1 and li2e.ise in.ardly and o0t.ardly1 in the inner .orlds as .ell
as in the o0ter .orlds# ,nd these are /0ll o/ these still s-aller1 still -ore -in0te organis-s1
.hich in their aggregate /or- the vast organis- o/ the cos-os#
$ /ancy that a/ter all it is only a /ig0re o/ speech to spea2 o/ the 0niverse as one vast
organis-1 /or the reason that any organis-1 in strict logic1 -0st be a li-ited entity1 and the
tho0ght that .e are endeavoring to e3press is dealing .ith That .hich is li-itless in all
senses# Aence the e3pression @vast organis- @ is a -etaphor1 a trope1 a -anner o/ speech
in order to e3press an idea al-ost too s0btil and high to p0t in ordinary lang0age#
This vast organis- o/ the cos-os then is an organis- only by philosophic license1 so to say#
$t is an organis- in the sense in .hich the h0-an race is an organis-1 /or-ed1 as the latter
is1 o/ individ0als1 co-posite o/ -en1 -en .ho are -in0ter organis-s o/ the corporate body
.e call h0-anity1 o/ -en .hose bodies in their t0rn are co-posite o/ entities still -ore
-in0te; and these entities still -ore -in0te are again co-posed o/ entities still s-aller than
they1 and so /orth inde/initely#
9et o0r -inds pass in tho0ght in the reverse direction to.ards -acrocos-ic spheres1 and
there also do .e /ind the sa-e la. o/ 0nity in diversity1 prevailing every.here# :e -ay reach
in o0r i-agination an 0lti-ate point and say1 this is the 0niverse; b0t by a still stronger e//ort
and loo2ing beyond that point not only do .e sense other 0niverses still -ore re-ote1 b0t o0r
instinct1 o0r int0ition1 ali2e tell 0s that thro0gh these -ore distant aggregates1 as thro0gh o0r
o.n 0niverse1 play the sa-e dei/ic /orces that .e 2no.1 the sa-e divine energies1 the sa-e
driving 0rge to progress1 the sa-e call to co-e 0p higher1 having the sa-e /orces playing
thro0gh the-1 their brother'0niverses or sister'0niverses1 i/ yo0 .ill# ,nd there are inde/inite
n0-bers o/ s0ch1 inco-p0table hosts o/ the-1 hosts visible and invisible1 hosts .itho0t and
.ithin# So that all that .e can -ean .hen 0sing the phrase1 @the 0niverse is one vast
organis-@ is to carry o0r tho0ght ever on.ards and to realiDe that it is bo0ndless space1
.itho0t li-itations1 .itho0t /rontiers1 .itho0t ending places#
Re-e-ber1 /0rther-ore1 that any s0ch organis- e3ists only in periods o/ its o.n
-anvantara; /or -anvantara is a .ord .hich .e -ay by analogy e-ploy /or both the great
and the s-all# There -ay be a -anvantara o/ a 0niverse as .ell as a -anvantara o/ an
aggregate o/ 0niverses; nor does any s0ch 0niverse1 nor does any s0ch aggregate o/
0niverses1 necessarily have its period o/ -anvantara or its period o/ pralaya
conte-poraneo0sly .ith all other aggregate bodies#
9et 0s be ca0tio0s abo0t this# :hen .e spea2 o/ @0niversal -anvantara@ .e -ean the
-anvantara o/ o0r o.n cos-ic aggregate; b0t another 0niverse -ay be in pralaya .hile .e
are in -anvantara; -any other 0niverses -ay be in pralaya1 or in -anvantara1 .hile .e -ay
be conversely in -anvantara or pralaya#
9et 0s be .atch/0l over o0r tho0ghts1 2eeping close g0ard over o0r -inds1 /or in this -anner
.e shall never allo. o0r -inds to crystalliDe into a -ere s0ccession o/ phrases and th0s
-a2e o/ the tho0ght a dog-a# :e learn -0ch by th0s .atching o0rselves and by th0s
st0dying o0rselves1 and by reaching ever in.ards into o0r o.n spirit0al nat0res1 g0ided by
the teaching .hich the 7asters have given to 0s; and the essence1 or1 so to say1 the 2eynote
o/ all these teachings is that the .ay to light and to li/e and to peace and to bliss and to
0nderstanding is .ithin o0rselves; and .e obtain these .onder/0l things by reaching or
striving ever /arther in.ards1 in.ards1 in.ards1 endlessly# For the /arther .e reach into
o0rselves1 so to say1 the /arther .e /ollo. that path.ay leading in.ards1 the -ore .e
beco-e conscio0s o/ still greater things1 still .ider visions1 and the path.ay th0s /ollo.ed
beco-es space itsel/#
$s this path.ay a di//erent path /ro- that .hich leadeth o0t.ards1 o0t.ards1 o0t.ards1 still
/arther o0t.ards to spaces and cos-oi .hich .e can int0itively sense as e3isting beyond the
bo0ndaries o/ o0r o.n 0niverse; &o1 it is the sa-e path1 e3actly the sa-e path; it is only o0r
-ind o/ -atter1 in .hich .e o/ necessity -0st .or2 in this o0r present period o/ evol0tion1
that conceives o/ the -ysteries o/ conscio0sness as occ0pying space1 or as /ollo.ing lines o/
directional e3pansion# ,ll these things e3ist in o0r conscio0sness1 not along any -aterial
directions; it is conscio0sness .hich 0nderstandeth1 and conscio0sness is neither /or.ards
nor bac2.ards1 nor to the right nor to the le/t1 nor 0p nor do.n1 b0t i!# $t is all things at all
ti-es1 and beca0se it is every.here1 it is no.here in partic0lar#
:here then abides this conscio0sness .hich is in each one o/ 0s; $t is .ithin1 it is /o0nd by
reaching in.ards; it is the great searching1 the great I0est; it is the see2ing the light; it is
li2e.ise the /inding it; it is see2ing the li/e; it is the /inding o/ it# This conscio0sness sho0ld be
so0ght /or by t0rning in.ards there/ore; yet .hen .e say that the path is in.ards1 it is1 a/ter
all1 b0t a /ig0re o/ speech; it is a -anner o/ verbal e3pression1 in order to convey an idea1 and
.e -0st not let o0r -inds crystalliDe aro0nd a -ere /ig0re o/ speech#
=o yo0 re-e-ber .hen .e spo2e at a /or-er -eeting here on the nat0re o/ the ancient
initiations1 .e then called attention to the very pro/o0nd tr0th that there co0ld be no initiations
0nless there .ere the a.a2ened conscio0sness in the post0lant or neophyte; :hat is
initiation; The .ord itsel/ really -eans a beginning1 the /irst steps o/ a beginner1 and there
are -any beginnings# There is the beginning /or the -an o/ the .orld; there is the beginning
/or the tr0e chela; there is the beginning /or the 7ahat-a; there is the beginning /or his
Teacher1 and so on inde/initely# $t is the opening o/ the co0rse /or develop-ent o/ a beginner1
and he .ho g0ides his /irst steps .ill do so .ith -0ch the sa-e care and attention that a
-other 0ses in g0iding and .atching the /irst steps o/ her little one#
$t is an old 4riental saying1 and a very bea0ti/0l one1 too1 that the initiator is both /ather and
-other to his disciple1 and -ore even than this5 beca0se .hereas the /ather and the -other
give the li/e o/ the physical body1 and that body itsel/ /or the p0rpose o/ the inco-ing so0l1
and also give the love and the care and the attention necessary to save the child /ro-
dangers and perils in o0r physical .orld1 the initiator in very tr0th gives yo0 yo0r so0l1
beca0se be a.a2ens it /or yo01 acI0aints yo0 .ith yo0rsel/1 opens the portals o/ yo0r
0nderstanding1 leads yo0 /orth to inspect and 0nderstand the 0niverse s0rro0nding 0s and
the -ysteries .hich it co-prises# $n brie/1 the teacher1 the initiator1 leads yo0 in.ards so that
yo0 -ay 2no. yo0rsel/ ? in other .ords1 as >0st hinted1 .atches over and attends to the
gro.th and develop-ent o/ yo0r e3panding conscio0sness#
'nothi !eauton1 said the Bree2s5 @<no. thysel/1@ an in>0nction carved over the te-ple o/
,pollo at =elphi; this -andate co-prises in t.o .ords the .hole secret o/ initiation and o/ the
initiations1 beca0se it co-prises the path .hich the e3panding conscio0sness /ollo.s in its
gro.th5 2now th&!el"+
Thysel/ ? .hat is it; $t is conscio0sness; it is also the heart o/ the 0niverse# Thysel/1 that sel/
.hich is the sa-e in thee and in -e1 in yo0 and in all others1 .hich is not di//erent in any one
o/ 0s1 as co-pared .ith any other one o/ 0s# $t is the 0lti-ate sel/1 the spirit0al overso0l; and
there/ore it is the one sel/1 the heart o/ the 0niverse# $t is the conscio0sness in yo0 .hich says
si-ply @$ a-1@ and that sa-e conscio0sness is in -e and in all others5 in the Teacher1 in the
chelas o/ the Teachers1 in the Teachers o/ the Teachers1 in the Silent :atcher o/ o0r
s0pernal sphere ? that oversel/ is the sa-e in all entities co-prised in any hierarchy#
%0t .hile that oversel/ is the sa-e in yo01 and in -e1 and in all that is1 not di//erent any.here
/ro- .hat it is any.here else; yet this does not co-prise all there is o/ 0s psychologically
spea2ing# There is so-ething else .ithin 0s1 not di//erent /ro- the overso0l b0t a ray o/ that
overso0l1 so to say1 and this so-ething else in each one o/ 0s is the individ0al ego5 that part
in each o/ 0s .hich says not -erely @$ a-1@ b0t @$ a- $1@ and not yo0# Thin2 over this
psychological -ystery as it is to those .ho are not .ell acI0ainted .ith the ancient .isdo-;
/or tr0ly one o/ the -ost .onder/0l -ysteries o/ the ancient .isdo-1 o/ esotericis-1 lies in a
correct 0nderstanding o/ this psychological -ystery#
$n order to -a2e -y -eaning -ore clear1 please re-e-ber that .hile it is a per/ectly tr0e
state-ent that the inner nat0re o/ -an is the seed o/ his individ0al conscio0sness1 that
conscio0sness is b0t a re/lection1 so to say1 o/ the 0niversal conscio0sness .hich abides in
all other entities .hatsoever and .heresoever they -ay be# $t is I0ite tr0e that .e reach into
this 0niversal conscio0sness and parta2e o/ its 0niversality by /ollo.ing the path leading
in.ards; b0t this is not a proced0re o/ the conscio0sness; and the -ind sho0ld not be
allo.ed to crystalliDe aro0nd any idea o/ -ere directional e3pansion#
, -an1 by considering the starry orbs .hich he sees over his head at night1 -ay as easily
/ollo. the path in.ards as another -an -ay by sitting in a corner .ith his attention
concentrated on his navel or the tip o/ his nose1 in the -anner o/ so-e e3oteric yogis1 so
called# The tr0th is that it is an aro0sing o/ the conscio0sness to sel/'0nderstanding1 and to
developing it to.ards the 0niversal#
There/ore1 once yo0 begin that 0nderta2ing1 and once yo0 begin to /ollo. that path1 yo0 .ill
/ind that -ere directional e3pansions are b0t .ords# The conscio0sness itsel/ .ill give yo0
the -eaning o/ these things1 and s0ch -eaning is al.ays a.ay /ro- the directional
li-itations or partic0larities o/ the -aterial .orld# $t is a gro.th o/ conscio0sness act0ally1
rather than a /ollo.ing o/ any path so called in any partic0lar direction# ,s a -an8s
conscio0sness e3pands he realiDes that it is gro.ing; b0t he .ill probably s-ile i/ he hears
one1 .hose conscio0sness has not e3panded eI0ivalently1 tal2ing o/ any partic0lar direction
in space as being that .hich the path.ay to.ards the light /ollo.s#
This relative $1 this ego'sel/1 this individ0al $ in each one o/ 0s1 is not the heart o/ the 0niverse;
b0t it is rooted in the heart o/ the 0niverse1 there/ore rooted in the 0niversal li/e1 in the
0niversal conscio0sness1 /or it is a ray o/ it# $t is that part o/ 0s .hich1 by the -agic o/
evol0tion1 by the .ondro0s -agic .hich the gods .or2 in their dei/ic energies1 /or-ing and
/ra-ing the cos-os as a .onder/0l .eb o/ being ? it is that part o/ 0s1 $ say1 .hich gro.s
/ro- 0nsel/'conscio0sness to sel/'0nderstanding1 to sel/'conscio0sness#
$n the vast .o-b o/ eternities past it began its career as an 0nsel/'conscio0s god'spar2; and
its destiny is to /lo.er o0t in d0e co0rse as a sel/'conscio0s god1 beco-ing so thro0gh the
0n.rapping or 0n/olding or evolving o/ the potentialities .hich are latent or inherent in its very
nat0re as a spar2 o/ the 0niverse# This is spirit0al evol0tion1 and can be considered as a
b0ilding 0p o/ a god /ro- the /orces and /ac0lties and po.ers inherent in its o.n sel/1 the
po0ring /orth o/ the latent or sleeping energies .hich intrinsically belong to it; yes1 a sel/'
conscio0s god1 as it .ill /inally beco-e1 in/illed .ith and by the heart o/ the 0niverse1 .hich is
the 0niversal sel/# $t is the b0ilding 0p o/ a god thro0gh and by -eans o/ the ego'sel/1 its
periodic -irror or re/lection#
,s <atherine Tingley e3presses it in her -ost bea0ti/0l invocation5
4 -y =ivinityK tho0 dost blend .ith the earth and /ashion /or thysel/ te-ples o/ -ighty
po.er#
4 -y =ivinityK tho0 livest in the heart'li/e o/ all things1 and dost radiate a golden light that
shineth /orever and doth ill0-ine even the dar2est co-ers o/ the earth#
4 -y =ivinityK blend tho0 .ith -e that /ro- the corr0ptible $ -ay beco-e $ncorr0ptible;
that /ro- i-per/ection $ -ay beco-e er/ection; that /ro- dar2ness $ -ay go /orth in
9ight#
The 0niversal sel/ is the heart o/ the 0niverse1 /or these t.o phrases are b0t t.o -anners o/
e3pressing the sa-e thing; it is the so0rce o/ o0r being; it is also the goal .hither .e are all
-arching1 .e and the hierarchies above 0s as .ell as the hierarchies and the entities .hich
co-pose the- in/erior to 0s# ,ll co-e /ro- the sa-e ine//able so0rce1 the heart o/ %eing1 the
0niversal sel/1 pass at one period o/ their evol0tionary >o0rney thro0gh the stage o/ h0-anity1
gaining thereby sel/'conscio0sness or the ego'sel/1 the @$ a- $1@ and they /ind it1 as they
advance along this evol0tionary path1 e3panding grad0ally into 0niversal conscio0sness ? an
e3pansion .hich never has an end1 beca0se the 0niversal conscio0sness is endless1
li-itless1 bo0ndless#
Nea1 in very tr0th1 it is all a -ost .ondro0s -ystery1 0sing the .ord @-ystery@ here in its
Bree2 sense o/ so-ething secret and .onder/0l# :e leave o0r dei/ic so0rce as 0nsel/'
conscio0s god'spar2s1 and o0r destiny is to beco-e sel/'conscio0s gods1 therea/ter ta2ing a
direct part in the vast cos-ic labor#
%0t is this the li-it .hich .e reach1 therea/ter to go no /arther ahead; =o .e then reach the
/rontiers o/ conscio0sness'space1 therea/ter /inding or discovering nothing still grander or
greater to 2no. or to be; &o indeed1 the tr0th is the e3act reverse o/ this# The conscio0sness
e3pands grad0ally1 and the -ore it e3pands the -ore it learns1 and that e3panding is
ti-eless1 o0tside o/ ti-e and space# $t e3pands /orever#
:e have spo2en o/ the hierarchies above 0s1 that is to say1 o/ the hosts o/ hierarchies .ho
have passed thro0gh the h0-an stage and .ho are -arching along their o.n respective
evol0tionary path.ays to.ards still greater destinies; b0t let 0s not /orget that beneath 0s
there are other hosts o/ hierarchies co-posed o/ lives inn0-erable1 0nco0nted hosts o/
the-1 trailing a/ter 0s1 conscio0sly or 0nconscio0sly loo2ing 0p to 0s as .e loo2 0p to those
.ho have preceded 0s1 even as .e have trailed a/ter1 in /or-er -anvantaras1 those .ho are
no. ahead o/ 0s1 .ho- .e loo2 0p to as gods or spirit0al beings or1 to 0se the ter- adopted
/ro- %0ddhis-1 dhyan'chohans#
4/ the hosts o/ these s-all and in/erior entities .ho are trailing a/ter 0s1 one portion o/ the-
is co-prised in the -0ltit0de o/ -in0te1 even in/initesi-al1 lives .hich co-pose o0r bodies5
that is to say1 the physical body1 the astral body1 the -ental body1 the intellect0al body1 and
the spirit0al body1 .hich aggregate hosts co-posing these respective bodies1 being o/
di//erent grades or in di//erent stages in evol0tion1 and each s0ch host /0rther-ore
interloc2ing .ith each other and .ith all others1 and .ith di//erent hierarchies o/ the .orld
aro0nd 0s ? all the hierarchies co-posing these vario0s bodies o/ -an8s septenary
constit0tion together /or- the co-posite 0nity thro0gh .hich -an8s in-ost sel/ .or2s1
beca0se in the-1 in another sense than that 0sed by a0l o/ the 6hristians1 .e live and -ove
and have o0r in/erior being#
:hat is this in-ost sel/; $ have already said .hat it is this evening1 and on -any another
occasion here# $t is that part o/ 0s by .hich .e con>oin .ith the heart o/ the 0niverse ? in very
tr0th1 it i! the heart o/ the 0niverse1 li-ited only by the individ0aliDed e3pression o/ o0r
spirit0al nat0re; and this spirit0al nat0re itsel/ is the so0rce o/ o0r ego#
9et 0s try brie/ly once -ore to s2etch the constr0ction or rather1 perhaps1 constit0tion o/ o0r
inner nat0re1 and $ select 0s -en as e3a-ples beca0se .e have developed 0p to the point
.here sel/'conscio0sness is beginning to -ani/est itsel/1 and thereby .e -ay ill0strate -ore
clearly and -ore easily ho. evol0tion proceeds#
First1 then1 is the 0niversal sel/1 the heart o/ being1 .hich is the sa-e in all o/ 0s# This
0niversal sel/ po0rs o0t its energies thro0gh the highest in -an8s constit0tion1 .hich in each
one o/ 0s is the -onad1 o0r inner spirit0al god# The -onad .or2ing thro0gh the vario0s
spheres b0ilds 0p -an8s inter-ediate nat0re1 .hich is the ego'sel/; and this ego'sel/1 as its
conscio0sness e3pands a.ay /ro- personality and li-itations to.ards 0niversality1
spontaneo0sly enters 0pon greater and ever greater spheres o/ li/e and activity1 0ntil this ego
beco-es in its t0rn a /0lly sel/'conscio0s e3pression o/ its inspiriting -onad1 .hich is b0t
another .ay o/ saying that it rebeco-es that -onad itsel/1 %lu! the e3periences that the ego
has acI0ired /ro- absorbing the aro-a o/ the vario0s lives .hich it has had#
:hen the ego has th0s rebeco-e -onadic1 in other .ords has beco-e a -onad itsel/ ? its
o.n inspiriting -onad -ean.hile having itsel/ advanced to spheres o/ li/e and activity still
-ore s0bli-e than it /or-erly had ? the ego'-onad then ass0-es a cos-ic nat0re1 and in its
t0rn evolves an inter-ediate sel/ or inter-ediate selves1 .hich .or2s or .hich .or2 thro0gh
o0r lo.er nat0res1 helping thereby the lives beneath 0s and in 0s1 in .ho- .e live and -ove
and have o0r in/erior being1 as $ have already said# $t is thro0gh these in/erior lives
co-posing o0r inter-ediate or lo.er nat0res that the ego'sel/ /inds its /ields o/ sel/'
e3pression; and .hen it /inally beco-es an egoic -onad1 it beco-es to the hosts o/ lives on
these inter-ediate and lo.er spheres their divine overso0l1 the hierarch o/ their hierarchy#
Th0s then1 as a parting tho0ght1 let 0s realiDe the responsibility ? spirit0al1 -ental1 psychical1
e-otional1 astral1 and physical ? .hich is o0rs# ,nd .hen $ say @o0rs1@ $ -ean o0rs as sel/'
conscio0s beings1 egos# :e are responsible /or .hat these inter-ediate and lo.er lives
0ndergo to a very large e3tent; .e realiDe that as .e i-press the-1 so .ill they sel/'e3press
the-selves1 0ntil they have attained sel/'conscio0sness in their t0rn; .e realiDe that .e give
the- the initial i-pet0s to.ards evol0tionary 0n/olding1 and that as .e set their /aces1 so to
say1 so .ill they travel the path#
:e realiDe1 /inally1 that ethical val0es are in h0-an li/e1 and in the connections that $ have
>0st hinted at1 .hat the la.s o/ the 0niverse are in the cos-os# %oth signi/y har-ony; both
signi/y consistency in action; both signi/y an identic so0rce; and both point to the /act that
both .e and they1 these lo.er entities1 are treading the path .hich they .ho have gone
be/ore 0s have trodden# This treading o/ the path is a gro.th o/ conscio0sness1 it is an
e3pansion o/ the conscio0s 0nderstanding; and hence it is that these entities ahead o/ 0s are
.here they are1 beca0se1 having trodden that path1 they have co-e to 2no.#
The %0ddhists have a -ost bea0ti/0l e3pression to ill0strate this /act o/ the co--on nat0re o/
those .ho have gone be/ore o0rselves1 and those .ho are co-ing a/ter 0s# They spea2 o/ a
%0ddha as one .ho is a Tathagata/a Sans2rit e3pression co-po0nded o/ t.o .ords
-eaning either @th0s co-e@ or @th0s gone1@ /or the Sans2rit is s0sceptible o/ either
translation; b0t the -eaning is identical1 signi/ying one .ho has /ollo.ed the in.ard .ay1 the
inner path.ay1 the still s-all path co-ing do.n1 so to say1 /ro- the 0niversal sel/1 passing
thro0gh the h0-an constit0tion on.ard 0ntil it disappears again in the heart o/ being /ro-
.hich .e ca-e#
,ll o/ yo0 are that path.ay# $ -ean that each one o/ yo0 -en and .o-en is /or yo0rsel/ that
path.ay; there is no other /or any one o/ yo01 beca0se it is yo0rsel/ traveling along the path
o/ 0nderstanding conscio0sness1 and reaching 0lti-ately its evol0tionary goal1 .hen yo0
beco-e a god#
TAE E&=
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