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Dec 06, 2000 04:22 AM
by dalval14
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December
5, 2000 DearGene: Sounds
interesting. May I add a fewmore
thoughts that you evoked in mine when reading it? But the MIND
(in incarnation in a physical body, such as we all inhabit) is dual. 1. Higher -- unified, spiritual, wise,
benevolent, virtuous, mindful of Law, etc.. and 2. Lower -- inchoate, selfish, sometimes vicious, secretive and loves to break the Law if
it can remain unseen and “get away with it” , etc… It (the
MIND) serves as a bridge (Theosophy says) between the Spiritual and the
Material ( the 2 “opposite Poles” of “manifestation.) 1. On oneside
it is linked to the divine and PERMANENT in NATURE. 2. On theother
end it is linked to the privations and limitations of matter and for and a
whole education (for its present life-time) to a particular name, race,
religion, culture, science and all the limitations and possible errors that
have been attached to those (as well as the good things too -- but it takeseffort
to impersonalize and universalize concepts. I think we are trying to do this and adjust our
vocabularies. I hope you
may agree with me that there has to be a third and an impartial FACTOR: There is obviously, and clearly (to me) the WITNESS, or that which is essential
and basic in us, which is the ruler and director of the mind. The Mind is a wonderful TOOL. But the “I” within directs and controls
its activities. I recognize that
the “wind of desire” can sweep up the unstable mind and “carry it away.” The
problem with DESIRE is that without the mind, it cannot foresee the resultsof
its actions. It is wrapped in its
own motives, goals, pleasures and is careless of those of others. [However, it is also interesting to
note that in ordinary statute and law a basic premise is that every human is
RESPONSIBLE for their actions, and ipso facto the conquest and control of their
MIND and ACTIONS.] While in a
body the “Lower mind” (usually
ruled by desire, passion and selfishness) prevails. But the “Higher Mind” is not entirely excluded -- or we
could not be writing about it and seeking it, as we are here and now. The Lower Mind
perceives that it is unstable and (following desire and inclination) it is seen
to flit from subject to subject.
How does it secure STABILITY, CONTROL, ONE-POINTEDNESS ? It seeks a discipline that some one may
have already established and looks around for traces of a “path.” Does it not appeal for these more stable
condition to its mentor the Higher Mind ?
Mindyou,
even if one receives advice “from within”
(conscience, intuition) the Lower mind may not “like it,” and may “reject
it.” Theosophy states that the “Higher
Mind” of any human has the same qualities and characteristics to be found in
every other -- it is shared. This
is the universal quality of the One Law of Evolution, and it is ruled by the
UNIVERSAL AND DEATHLESS SPIRIT. In
this we are all BROTHERS -- and the aim of Theosophy is to make this plain to
those who desire to prove that for themselves. Those who
consider themselves philosophers or “friends who are seekers for Truth” are
usually in such a position. To clear
the air, one might engage in the following consideration: BEFORE,
DURING and AFTER MANIFESTATION there is always the immutable, immeasurable, Background
-- called in THEOSOPHY SD terms ( Vol.
1 ) ABSOLUTE
or ABSOLUTENESS, or DARKNESS (no contrasts, no light generator). THAT
which has neither attributes nor limitations, nor may IT have any. [T.
Glos 4] In
Hinduism PARABRAHM -- attributeless, Secondless REALITY, impersonal, Nameless, universal
PRINCIPLE [ T. Glos 248 ] PRABHAVAPYAYA - whence all things originate andinto
which all things resolve at the End
of the LIFE-CYCLE. [ T. Glos. 259
] PRAKRITIKA
PRALAYA -- which succeeds the Age of Brahma,then
all that exists is Resolved
back into its primordial essence.
[ T. Glos 260 ] This
is both the ZERO and the ONE when viewed from the plane of
differentiation. Hence the concept
of the TWO ONES (see SD I p.130 ) The
Universal KARMIC LAW demands that DIFFERENTIATION and manifestation OCCUR AGAIN,
(and then after a restorative rest, they recommence). This creative and equilibrating factor cannot
be eliminated from any concept, or review. One may call it the inevitable PAST. It implies that we will always be affected
and influenced by all the choices we have made earlier, in this life or in earlier
incarnations. We have left
a “trail” of effects on the minute constituents of Nature and now they “follow us.”
We have to carefully free them of any
deleterious impressions that we may have placed on them earlier. In Hindu philosophy these are called the
“aggregates” (Monads of lesser experience,
for which we are trustees and tutors) skandhas, samskaras, “little lives,” etc… This
implies earlier “Manifestations,” earlier “Differentiations.” In those we lived and participated
and left an impression of our work and management (ethical, moral, factual). But this like an account carried
forward means that our deeds of the past have to be HARMONIZED in the present
and the future that is arriving up to us as we live. [ SD I 632 bottom ]. HARMONY is
the ONE and SUPREME LAW in the ALL
[ SD II 420, ML 141 SD I 632 ] For our
understanding of our current position, in general, a 3-fold evolutionary scheme
is sketched in SD I 181-2 SPIRITUAL
or
MONADIC [ atma-Buddhi conjoined ] INTELLECTUAL or
MANASIC (Mind) PHYSICAL or
TEMPORARY, ILLUSORY FORMS. Corresponding
to each of these are the actual entities who ‘live in’ and are ‘influenced by’
their temporary
sojourn in any set of situations. Prior to
emergence from the ‘sleep’ of a great Maha-Pralaya, the UNIVERSE moved by the
conjoined Karma of all the beings that participated in its earlier activities
begins to stir, to become aware of the need to “awake” and to “resume” -- just like a pupil stirs each morning
and prepares for School. [ see SD I
27-29 ] So every pupil/MONADin
Nature begins to stir and prepare to work again in a fresh Manifestation
through the path of evolution, and many reincarnations. In the SD H.P.B. uses the concept of the LOGOS (word or verbum) as a symbol of that
fundamental INTELLIGENCE that pervades
manifestation and all ex-istence.
It implies law, purpose, a plan, intelligence, benevolence, education,
and all the many variants in life that are associated with thought and feeling
working and living in a “form.” Situationally,
this would include us as well as all MONADS that are rising through the rungs and
levels that are provided for individual experience, to the independence of
self-consciousness -- that is the
human estate. (Our human
condition.) Passing
through the “human estate” (graduating) are MONADS that assume wider and deeper
responsibilities based entirely on their mastery of knowledge, law, wisdom,
benevolence, charity, virtue, and brotherhood. [ Names given to this series of “super-men” are “ Elder Brother,
initiate, Adept, Master of Wisdom, Buddha, Rishi, Mahatma, etc… A whole host of
beings that have vaster duties than ours to occupy their time and attention,
although some of them continue to assist mankind in its development. We owe the SD and Theosophy to the work
and benevolence of such beings.
They we revere as our teachers and as Masters of Wisdom and of
Compassion.] She speaks
of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd LOGOS. She
seems to assign definite functions in time and activity UNMANIFESTED
LOGOS - THE IDEAS AND PLANS OF A NEW
MANIFESTATION MANIFESTING
LOGOS - THE ACTUAL TRANSITION INTO
MANIFESTATION MANIFESTED
LOGOS - THE WHOLE OF MANIFESTATION AS IT NOW IS The 1st
Vol. of the SD deals extensively
with these ideas. Additional
information was given by H.P.B. to her pupils which you will find reprintedin
a small book titled: TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE. There is
much to study and think about and if one does this a little at a time, but
steadily, the coherence of this vast scheme becomes ever clearer and more
reasonable. In the first instance
one cannot “hurry” one’s own progress.
There is usually much to “undo.”
But there are also friends to whom we can entrust our perplexities, and
as we advance, we develop our INTUITION and the channel to our own HIGHER MIND
and HIGHER SELF (MONAD - ATMA/BUDDHI) can ever be widened. I trust
this may prove to be of some help. Dallas W. Dallas TenBroeck ========================================== -----Original Message----- Hi Dallas, Yes. I'm dealing with a translation
of Hwa Yen and small parts. I'm looking to understanding the first three
sets: zero, one and two and their intimate relationships. This is my
primary focus. Then and only then do I look to the fragmentary and
translated portions of what is to me an overcomplicated and hyper-intellectual
and out-of-the-reach of ordinary minds philosophy. I much prefer
HPB. But I'm making my own way. I sit and rest and become less and
less interested in opinions and other distractions. I'm learning not to
clutter my mind. I love a clear mind even if there is nothing in
it! Especially when there is nothing in it! ================================ DTB Managing
the mind is better than blanking it.
The attractions and distractions of the LOWER MIND need to be controlled
(suppressed for a while). This
enables the HIGHER MIND (that deals with universals, ideals, virtues,
constructive work, etc..) to do its work.
In either case YOU the WITNESS and the PERCEIVER are inevitably active
overseeing the work that the mind does, and YOU are the one controlling its
work. This is the POSITIVE WORK
each has to learn to do. The“blanking
the mind” is purely NEGATIVE and produces nothing that is of any future value. ================================== I really shouldn't have used the word
it. I should use the word THAT. I know. I sort of like to
tease it by being overly informal. Somehow I don't think it minds. The mind needs integration. All
these infinite states of consciousness need drawing up together into seven states,
then three and then just one and then the one fades to nothing. Love does
this. Love is THAT to which I refer. Love: THAT which is
beyond words, beyond all possible thought . . . .by definition. Para
Atma. Group Consciousness. ================================== DTB Consider
your own words and their implications.
LOVE is an emotion. It
merely says I need “this or that” because without it I FEEL incomplete. Is this an actual necessity? Does it express what the FREE IMMORTAL
SELF needs ? We need to find out what are our NEEDS vs.
what are our “wants.” [ Maslow has
given us a valuable table on these. ] What is the nature of the SELF -- not just
the words that others have used, but those which we can apply to IT (within
us) -- we have to perceive its
presence within and realize that IT is ONE WITH THE GREAT “ALL.” Each of us is an IMMORTAL, not separate
but an indissoluble part of the ALL. GROUP CONSCIOUSNESS ? Is it that of the ETERNAL or of the “herd
?” Secure a grip on understanding the
duality of the Mind, and then watch it working in yourself. The only way anyone can progress is by
self-effort. We teach
ourselves. Even if we adopt the
concepts and disciplines that others offer (or sell ?) it is WE (alone) who
make decisions as to use and application.
Even the decision to “do nothing” is still a DECISION. And we MAKE IT. All advances in life are the result of
positive actions. No one ever
gains anything from “reliance on others,” no matter how great ethically and
morally they may be. Every man
makes himself, gradually but surely into that which he really sets up as his
ideal. Mental visualization
follows the CHOICE OF A GOAL. So
we have to be very careful -- which is what Theosophy teaches from one end to
the other. It acts like a mirror
and shows us what and how we are. [see SD II 176: “Desire first arose in IT, …. “] On the importance of the MONAD - (or
ATMA/BUDDHI) (as the
indestructible and intelligent building-blocks of all Nature) -- SD I 613 to 634. Best wishes, Dal ====================== Gene |