Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00661)

June 27th 1998

Dear Thomas:

Curious about the address -- I though I picked that up from your
message.

IMHO -- the physiological chakras (plexi) are symbolical of
psychological aspects of man's constitution.  I would recommend
that you read (study ?)  the Theosophical concept of the 7-fold
"man" living in a 7-fold universe.and that every "man" is a
mirror of the Universe and subtly connected to every one of its
"parts."

Actually one has to think one's way through the composite being
that we are, recognize the aspects we us are tools and not
independent of the ONE CONSCIOUSNESS which is the source of our
Individuality ( or Egoity -- I do not mean selfishness and
isolation, but our "togetherness" with the whole of a living
Nature ).

This does not mean that questions such as :  why am I seemingly
separate ?  what in me is aware of "separateness ?"  If I pursue
my "selfish isolation" of thought and feeling (we all do when
awake) to what ultimate goal does this lead ?  If I depend on the
Universe (or Nature) around me for its cooperation, do I owe a
debt of cooperation to It ?  What are the elements of exchange ?

You may say to me that this leads away from a consideration of
the chakras.  But if you look at the emblem adopted they are
lotus flowers -- symbols of universality and eternity with the
ancient Hindus.  Also no test from the past ought to be
considered on its literal, superficial words alone.  There are
always inner keys to the ideas used. [ I assume that you have
access to a copy of THE SECRET DOCTRINE ?  In Vol. 1, pp. 305  on
you will find that HPB gives us several important keys to
understanding symbols.  There are others scattered through her
book and these ought to be consulted.

Now what does this ?  IMHO it is the mind, the power of thinking,
driven by the desire to know.  If it is wisdom we seek, then that
heart quality universalizes the search, makes it a mater of
general usefulness as it constantly draws attention away from
isolation to the integration of the individual with the rest of
his environment.

If you were studying a course in school you might elect to read
deeper into the subject while following at the same time the
discipline of the class under the Professor's teaching.  You
might learn more than the pupils  who confine themselves to the
course, but you cannot entirely escape from the mean adopted for
common study.  [Or you ,may have already developed genius along
those lines in a past life, and find that the present class is
pedestrianating.  I which case you have a choice:  to continue
with it, for whatever reason (and those reasons ought to be
carefully considered), or,  choose (if possible) to enter the
course of study at some more advanced level.  In any case it
would be wise to consult with others, the Professor or his Aides.

I offer this as an illustration of many situations that one meets
in living.  Does this relate to the employment of the energies
from our individual chakras ?  The answer is yes.  But like my
illustration above, the predominance of one over others in
ourselves only indicates the present facility we enjoy.

But one ought also to consider that all the chakras depend on
each other, and therefore all have to be kept in line, even while
we might seemingly emphasize one.  It is when we exaggerate or
distort the whole of one's being by a strong desire to improve
one in preference to others that trouble arises.  So it is our
ability to BALANCE that is the most important.  And Balance
implies that we are aware of the importance of each, as well as
the potential development of any one that we may select.

The implications of such a view are to first develop the power to
see ourselves as detached observers (Witnesses) of the life,
struggle and development of our involved personal selves in our
everyday work and being.  The personal everyday self focuses on
what it considers important, and may select for study aspects of
living or centers of knowledge (as the "heart" chakra) of which
it has heard and to which it "feels" attracted.

As friend Spencer indicates, PATANJALI's YOGA SUTRAS ( as
explained and illustrated by Judge ) is of great help in
organizing our concept of what and who we are, and where we ought
to be going.  It starts of course with the proposition that we
are, at root base, immortals.   And have under charge the
assistance in the self-development of a similar immortal, which
is the child-mind we call the personality.  Not long ago it was
"lit up" in this period of manifestation.  It is at school and is
testing the various avenues of learning, and studying its own
powers to understand and to act.  It is the one that has to act
and live in the world.  We can suggest to it through the
"Intuition," and warn it f danger using the "Voice of
conscience."  But, we cannot do its work for it.  We cannot take
it over.  WE know what the chakras are and how they work -- it is
a part of universal knowledge, though not one that is emphasized
as an aspect of psychology outside of Theosophy.  And even there
we are cautioned not to "materialize" them.  they have to be seen
as spiritual powers.  Take the "Bhagavad Gita" or the
"Dhammapada" for instance.  Those are manifestations of the
"heart chakra -- the Heart Doctrine.  The personality senses
them, may have heard of them or read of them, and may feel
attracted to them.  But has it, as a preliminary, broadened its
understanding to a comprehension of all its already existence
potentials ?  That is what the inner Self suggests be done to
each of us.  And this may in fact take years of patient work.  Do
we have that patience ?  and if we are "impatient," why so ?

I offer these as ideas to consider, and know that they may not be
fully satisfactory, but maybe they help some.

Dallas

> Date: Friday, June 26, 1998 9:59 PM
> From: "Thomas Browne" <cybernetix@aol.com>
> Subject: Heart Chakra Meditation

>Dear W. Dallas TenBroeck
>Thanks so much for responding to my email requesting information
on the
>subject matter.  Your response made me feel personally connected
to a larger
>platform of people knowledgeable in this field and not cynical
or without
>subtle understanding and/or experience.  It is interesting that
you responded
>to Andrew Brown.  My brother and father are both called Andrew
and my name is
>Thomas.  I don't think there is any significance but, it tickled
me.  The
>content of your response proved very stimulating to me and I
would like to ask
>you if you have practised focusing on your heart as in a
spiritual meditation?
>If so, what was your experience?  What is the difference between
the crown and
>heart chakras from an experiential point of view?  Anything you
have to say on
>these matters will be sensitively acknowledged by me.  I look
forward to
>hearing from you.
>Regards
>Thomas Browne
>
>