Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tt00029)

Dear friend Lorraine:

The concept that you offer, derived from the works of Mouravieff
Namely :

1.) A "General Law" which is said tends to "keep us enslaved in
our primitive sates," and this is subject to chaos and accident;
and

2.) "the law of Exception--where one is consciously treading the
Way (Path) and where there are no acidents."

is interesting to consider.

He says that one has to "pay a high ransom" to break away from
the first and enter the second if I understand your statement
correctly -- to "reverse the flow" and exchange the path of
Involution (of Experience) for the path of Evolution (of Return).
I think the use of the words "experience," and, "return" need
expansion for true understanding.  [ In a quick way let me say:
as physical, emotional and mind beings, we are invoved now in the
"Path of Experience." As immortal Monads (Spirit-souls) we are
always on the "Path of Return." We are dual in nature and in
consciousness, and hence we discuss and debate these ideas within
our own minds -- this is one proof of the duality and one of the
points of evidence of what I say and offer below.  ]

I think that with some adjustment of terms the Theosophical
concept and the one you offer are almost the same in idea.

Let me speak again of the Theosophical one and let us see if they
are.

Theosophy views all manifestation as an opportunity for
individual intelligence to develop.  Simply put, it is like an
enormous School.  Each pupil is important and each is both a
learner (from those who are more advanced) and a teacher (to
those who are less experienced than he or she is).

Further each "pupil" is an immortal "life-atom," an Intelligence
with a continuous integrity.  It does not "die" although the
bodies that it uses, made of material stuff, may disintegrate and
reintegrate in time and in other ways.

If this idea is acceptable, then the next step is to perceive
that there is a constant growth of experience, of memory of those
events, and of consciousness of "self." This unit of life is a
"Force."

What kind of force ? It is a portion of the Universal LIFE-FORCE.
Some call this Spirit because it is said that it includes
everything, and for IT there is neither form, nor limitation.  It
is continuous and entire.  The word ABSOLUTENESS has been used
because we have no ability to describe it and it is not limited
in any way, either in time, space or intelligence.

Each "life-unit" or "Monad" is derived from this ONE UNIVERSAL
SELF.  Each Monad is limited in terms of its individual
experience and in the maniferstation ( Univers, World, area) in
which it lives.  Potentially, each "pupil" can acquire in time
and through experience the consciousness and the wisdom of the
WHOLE.  It is immortal and hence "time," as we are aware of, is
not a factor for it.  We cannot think of our mind and inner
nature as being "dead," even though we recognize that the body
will eventually pass away.

As these "pupils" progress, and as they are presently visible to
us, they are seen to be in many grades or levels.  Some are
learning in the mineral, vegetable, animal, and we, in the human
kingdoms...  and wherever we or they are, there is a difference
between each one that is individual to it.

One of the fundamental ideas of Science is that the atom is
indestructible and eternal.  The next is that LAW pervades the
Universe.  The whole of scientific research is based on the
concept of universal and immutable LAW.

Nature already has everything.  it contains us as well as
everything else.

Science tries in its many departments to learn the rules and Laws
tha operate there and which have cause things to be as they are.

Science is also forced to take certain hypotheses as basic: the
atom is a perpetual motion machine.  Why? they do not know.  The
Ether exists as an agent for the transmission of electro-magnetic
force--radio and other forces or "rays," and waves.  Eletricity
and magnetism cannot be described as they have never yet been
found.  Only their effects as phenomena are describable and made
use of.  The nature of Fire is unknown.  combustion occurs when
there is fuel, oxygen abd heat, but that is only a description of
the phenomena of fire, and not of what FIRE is.

And there are more mysteries also besides these which are used
commonly because their effects as events are understood.  Man's
"soul" or "mind" is not discovered, although the effect of the
Soul/mind on the brain and body are described.  The seat of
intelligence in all atoms, molecules, cells and other material
structures in considered to be inductively essential as ideas,
but the exact nature and location of these is not discovered.
Only the phenomena of their presence is visible to each of us as
our own mind, desire, and will-choice powers.

The power of free or independent choice, is a power that is a
basic part of existence for all "life-units." Those in the lower
kingdoms follow general laws of experience, as they pass from one
form or combination to others under the general laws of
attraction and repulsion.

When the intelligence of the mind is achieved in the human
kngdom, true individualism manifests, whether itis in a child, an
adult, or even in a slave.  Humans as conscious powers and beings
do not return to the conditions of the lower ones, but remain
human as their line of progress (again, through free self
determination) is towards a goal of Wisdom, of "All-Knowingness."

We are aware that great minds and great human beings have come
among us from time to time, and their words and acts are recorded
in history.  From some of these the great religions are derived,
as people try to adopt some of their principles for use in their
own lives.  This is evidence of the manifestation of future
potential which any human who decides to work for such a goal of
wisdom can bring to fruition.  But, like anything else, there is
concentrated work in store for those who decide to do this.

Wisdom is not only mental capacity, it is of the heart capacity,
of compassion, of service and help to others, so that they too
might progress.  This is an aspect of self-development which all
instinctively respect, and usually do not well understand.  But
for the entire secret of nature to be opened to anyone, the
individual has to prove that he is entirely harmless to others,
and therefore can be trusted with those secrets of Life.  Many
have heard of the occult side of the great old religions.  Some
believe that they can find hints that lead to such secrets in the
ancient religious texts and ceremonies.  Then also, some are
baffled by the time that it takes to learn those things.  There
is an inner urge to learn and acquire wisdom, but the price one
pays for that is one of many years of study, and to learn to
become entirely master of one's own constitution,
psychologically.  Many adopt the "doctrine of the Eye," and fail
to perceive the underlying "doctrine of the Heart."

The idea of a great School again comes before us.  We have the
many pupils, each with the same potentials.  And we have those
who have graduated earlier, the teachers, and the professors.
Their mission it is to instruct and to help those who desire to
learn, and who are not yet advanced.  In this way those who work
may eventually join the company of the graduates.  We see this
all around us in the world of education.

So far we have described the Path of Evolution, of both mind and
heart.  When a condition of excellence, of "perfection" is
attained then the choice is offered to the one who reaches that
point of becoming a "teacher," or a being whose wisdom and
impartiality enables him/her to assist in managing the many
departments of this vast school of Life.  You could call this the
Path of Return if you wish.

What is the price (the ransom) tha is to be paid -- no more than
an understanding of these ideas, of seeking to find out if this
concept is true and useful, and then if found valuable, to use
it, each in his/her own way.

Thus the two ideas can be reconciled, as I see it.

I hope that these ideas are of help.   DTB