Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00182)

In a message dated 06/22/00 12:26:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
benge@adsnet.com writes:

<< In some respects, there is no such thing as reincarnation, because there is
 no incarnation to begin with, such that life as I understand it goes.  This
 is the only time I can, or will be, Wayne Benge.  Perhaps, I thought, the
 real me is this higher self that sets up a life such as mine.  The Initiate
 starts to talk with this higher self?  Is the higher self the real me? >>

Yes, of course Wayne. The eternal (divine) part of ones natures is it's non 
physical identity. The path of initiation is the continual striving to 
actualize that identity while incarnated in a physical vehicle. We wear these 
physical bodies as one wears many suits of clothes. At the end of the day we 
put the old suit away (sometimes never to be worn again) and next morning, 
don a fresh new suit. The suits change but their wearer is ever the same. 
Grown somewhat wiser or skillful or more mature, perhaps but still the same 
wearer of the clothes.

<<Here is my question.  If a person can be a level 1 initiate from a previous
life, and still not remember that previous life, who am I, according to
Theosophy?>>

In the particular series of books you mention here, you are your essential 
(immortal) identity. Often referred to in that series as your "Ego," capital 
E, to denote higher self, as opposed to the "personality" sometime referred 
to as the "ego," or lower self. Personality, in those works, refer to the 
dense physical body, the lower desire nature and the rational mental nature 
(left Brain) as a single, fused unit. These two are often referred to in 
Theosophy, as upper and lower Triads.

 Hope this helps.

Louis

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