Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00013)

April 4, 1999
Jerry:

As I think about it.

If CONSCIOUSNESS is a faculty - a "tool" then, it is used by
SOMETHING.  Also I think you are correct hat it is imprinted on
some kind of substance.

As I read and understand Theosophy, the MONAD (Atma-Buddhi) as a
"ray" of the ABSOLUTE is distinct and "immortal."  It has no
actual or finite "date" of commencement.  It is "as old as
everything else."

Its INDIVIDUALITY is reinforced by the accretion of Manasic
experiences that are of the quality of "spirituality" - in terms
of universal and ethically (Karmically) transcendence of nature.
Admittedly these are "memories" of experience, and they are
impacted on that aspect of the "Akasa" which relates to that
MONAD.  Thus it becomes Atma-Buddhi-Manas.  This Entity, as I
understand it is that which is able to "sit at the doorway of the
ABSOLUTENESS," and yet retain its INDIVIDUALITY (Example the
GREAT SACRIFICE described in SD I 207-210).

I would agree with you that there is great difficulty in choosing
the right words to express these ideas.

Dal

================

-----Original Message-----
From:	owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com] On Behalf Of bjs
Sent:	Saturday, April 03, 1999 6:38 PM
To:	theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject:	Theos-World Response to Dallas

<<Regardless of numerous definitions, is not CONSCIOUSNESS (I
mean
that which wells up in each of us) an individual faculty ?>>

It is individual so long as we maintain a separate sense of
selfhood.
We are individual spiritual monads or consciousness centers, yes.
But we
are so equal at that level that we are of the same substance and
form
(formless) and we all occupy the same space (infinity) at the
same time
(eternity) so there is absolutely no difference or distinction
between
any one and any other. The feeling there is one of oneness and
unity,
but there must be an individual consciousness to feel this, I
guess.

<<If it is that which enables you, or me, to bridge the gaps of
different planes of experience;  then, it is not modified by the
passage into those planes, and on return, let us say, to this
plane's "consciousness," does it not bring back either accurate
or fragmentary MEMORIES of what it saw, or did there ?>>

Consciousness per se, or pure consciousness, has no memories but
requires a storehouse of some sort to store them. This is what
are
vehicles do (brain on the physical, Ego on the causal, etc). Our
vehicles grow and evolve over the eons, but consciousness stays
exactly
the same, I think.

<<Is this fair and accurate ?>>

Pretty much. It is very tricky to put spiritual issues into
words. In
one sense consciousness is an individual thing, but on another it
is
collective or universal. I probably confuse you here more than
help, but
I am having a hard time saying it right.

Jerry S.



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