Theos-Talk Archives (December 2000 Message tt00023)

December 7, 2000

Re: Theosophical use of the word "RACE".

Dear Jeremy:

Please let me offer some ideas acquired from a long study of the
S.D.


Theosophical use of the word: "Race."

Looking through the explanations given in Vol. 1 of the SD one
finds H.P.B. has used it to indicate a period of about 7 times
210,000 years (the cycle of a "sub-race" of which there are 7 in
a "Race" [ S.D. II 434-436, 68-70; S.D. I 200-202 ] ( about
1,470,000 years ? )

She also indicates [S.D. I 181-2 ] that the process of evolution
involves three strands of development.


THREE LINES of EVOLUTION

1. the "MONADIC or Spiritual" (as Wisdom -- knowledge plus
compassion), 2. The "Intellectual" (which includes the
volition, will, desire, etc...) and, 3. the "Physical" (which
includes form, and the aggregation of "skandhas -- little lives"
which were used and impressed with our thought and desires in
past incarnations -- they return to us, under Karma, to frame the
personal environment around us.)

2. The Intellectual -- Our modern psychology after 100 years
is leaning more and more to an understanding of this as they
disentangle "desire" from "thought and reason."

3. The "Physical" -- or the aggregated "life-atoms" (Monads of
lesser experience) which we attract back to us after having
impressed them in early years or past lives with the power of our
choices and usage. [ Physical includes: 1. the frame-work of
electro-magnetic substance called the "Astral body" on which the
physical molecules are assembled; 2. the "life-principle"
(named Prana or Jiva), and, 3. the Kamic principle or "desires
and passions." It may be understood that our Karma is the means
whereby the impressions we have laid on these "skandhas" serves
to recall them at the appropriate time to again provide us with a
"form" in which to live and have further experience. To the
extent that we may have improved or degraded them in the past,
the present is either assisted or retarded by the impressions
that they return to us. ]


RACE and REINCARNATION

The word "race" is then more a period of time, as all
reincarnating MONADS will be re-entering the bodies furnished by
Karmic heredity during that vast period of well over 1 million
400,000 years. The average period between reincarnations for
humanity is said to be about 1,500 years [KEY pp. 145, 191-2 ]

As in any one incarnation we have a tendency to associate
ourselves closely to the "personality" in which we temporarily
dwell, so we may extend as a personal thought the concept (false)
that we are dependent on and closely related to our physical
heredity as a member of a race or sub-race (ethnologically) of
humanity.


TRIBES, ETHNIC RACES, ACCIDENTS,

The many groupings of humanity (tribes and ethnic races) from
time to time, present groups of reincarnating Egos with the kind
of environment and difficulties or opportunities that enable them
to deal with those aspects of Karma that they (as a group) have
generated or participated in, in the past -- our present always
is firmly linked to our past and to that of others. The Karma of
individuals may cause them to be distanced (or attracted) at
critical times from (or to) a racial area with which they have
Karmic links. Providential escapes or involvement may be
classified under such a law.


HIGHER SELF and BUDDHI-MANAS unaffected by heredity.

However since the EGO (Higher MIND -- BUDDHI-MANAS, and the
HIGHER SELF -- ATMA-BUDDHI are eternal, universal and impersonal
the physical race or heredity is insignificant. That does not
mean that our present position as a karmic link with our past is
unimportant, any more than a day at school is unimportant to a
student. Every life, theosophy says is a learning opportunity
for the PERSONALITY (the Lower Manas).


PERSONALITY -- its importance

If we look at our 4-fold (says Theosophy) PERSONALITY [ physical
body, astral framework body, vitality, 'desires and passions' ]
we notice that the power to reason and think is not related to
them until the mind extends a filament of consciousness to the
'Desire' [KAMA] principle (corresponding to instinct and reaction
in plants and animals). When that junction is made, there arises
in the DESIRE Principle the "Lower-Manas" or 'Personal Mind' (and
all its limitations -- with which we who are in incarnation are
continually surrounded).

It is this PERSONAL MIND (the Lower Manas) which becomes the
"PUPIL" to the wiser and more experienced HIGHER MANAS
(Buddhi-Manas)

You and me, as "pupils" have an innate urge to grow in
understanding, and in such information as will enable us to live
a more complete, a 'better' life.


PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE

We seek to understand the limitations of our 'present.' We seek
to discover our 'origins.' We feel that some of our limitations
and biases are the result of our "past decisions and choices.'
Can we prove this? If such information is available, if we can
choose voluntarily to alter the quality of our decisions, then we
hope that we can make a 'better future' for ourselves (and
others.)

These are the things Theosophy puts forward as key concepts to
understand the whole evolutionary scheme and the vast periods of
time needed for each immortal, Eternal Pilgrim (the MIND-BEING)
to develop into a WISE-MAN (BUDDHI-MANAS).


The BUDDHAS, RISHIS, MAHATMAS, ADEPTS
(Wise and Compassionate Men)

The truly Buddhi-Manasic man is a BUDDHA -- a wise one -- who can
comprehend the Universe and deal harmoniously at all times, with
all its Laws. A BUDDHA stands as one who conceives it his duty
to assist and protect with his wisdom. At the same time he may
not enforce his wisdom on anyone, as each aspirant who truly
seeks to become wise has to generate voluntarily and sustain
impersonally his innate urge to perfect and purify his own "lower
nature."

Each MONAD, whether in the "human stage" or otherwise, has always
the potential of becoming divine after aeons of time, by the
power of its own WILL and self-purificatory efforts. In this we
are all BROTHERS. Keeping this one thought constantly in mind,
we will want to purify our desires, thoughts and actions. This
is the single great secret of all Time. But, it takes every
MONAD to reach the stage of being able to employ the
"universality inherent in the human mind" to envisage it. With
this as aim, the unity of the WHOLE is made his focus, and
superficial differences are abandoned -- they loose importance -
as do all minor illusions.


PERFECTION -- IS IT AN ULTIMATE ?

The ultimate perfection is the ability to perceive the truth,
function and necessity of all beings, whether these be 'visible'
or 'invisible' on other planes of 'SPACE.' Perception has then
to be moderated by the impersonal volition to abide by and teach
the "LAW." [ Harmony and Equilibrium are the fundamental LAWS
of Nature -- universal KARMA . (S.D. II 420, ML 141)
Perfection as a goal is always receding. "One may enter the
Light, but one may not touch the Flame." [ VOICE OF THE
SILENCE]. As a guide and assistance, H.P.B.'s THE VOICE OF THE
SILENCE ought to be made a daily companion for study, and
mediation on the meaning behind the statements made there.


The PURPOSE of MANVANTARIC CYCLES of EVOLUTION

If we refer to H.P.B.'s S.D. Vol. I pp 158-160, 200-202, we will
find she shows a Manvantara consists of 7 GLOBES (three show
"SPIRIT" descending into "matter"; GLOBE D is at the point of
equilibrium.

The S.D. states he have passed the point of Equilibrium for this
Manvantara and we are now on the ascending side back towards our
"Spiritual" beginnings, plus all the experience gained in this
cycle; (our position in evolution is: GLOBE "D", RACE 5
(Aryan --or ":Noble"), 5th SUB-RACE. We have passed the
mid-point of this Manvantaric cycle of Evolution (S.D. I 185-6,
II 69fn, 249,)

H.P.B. says on S.D. I 200 footnote that the planes of
consciousness are a different matter, and are dealt with
separately.

There is much to learn, but the practical application to our
lives will be found allegorically in the need to apprehend the
ethico-moral effect of our every choice, feeling and thought --
those affect our personal Karma and directly impact the
"little-lives" (the Monads of lesser experience for whose
tutelage we are responsible). As we become wiser, so does their
area of intelligent experience also widen and deepen.

If any aspects of this remain unclear, please ask or inquire and
an endeavor will be made to explain from H.P.B.'s S.D.


Best wishes,

Dallas



W. Dallas TenBroeck

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Condick [mailto:jp@condick.fsnet.co.uk]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 12:51 PM
To: theos-talk@egroups.com
Subject: Re: Theos-World RE: [bn-basic] Re: The Secret Doctrine
and Racism POLES APART


----- Original Message -----
From: <dalval14@earthlink.net>
To: <basic@blavatsky.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 1:26 AM
Subject: Theos-World RE: [bn-basic] Re: The Secret Doctrine and
Racism POLES APART


> Dec 4th 2000
>
> Dear friend/s:
>
> I agree that in no way the exponent of a philosophy which is
> based on UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD can in any way be considered a
> narrow and bigoted racist.

> HPB is most careful to explain that the special use of the word
> "RACE" is entirely different from the way in which the word is
> ordinarily used. If anything it also indicates a division of
> time during which evolution takes another series of steps with
> the help of all those involved in a specific area and
condition.
>
> If anything it might be said that a group of Egos with similar
> broad PERSONAL characteristics are drawn by their individual
> KARMA to incarnate together. A "race" arises, lives for a few
> centuries and when the need for that kind of a personal
> environment changes, the quality of the Egos that incarnate
also
> changes and the "race: may then decline and eventually
disappear.

Perhaps it would be an idea to think of "Race" in terms of
consciousness evolution
rather than Physical/material evolution.
The quality of an ego would seem to imply the stage of
consciousness of an ego
and also of the group of egoes which would make up the larger
"Racial" group.

As mentioned, the use and meaning of the term "Race" has been
debased
over time. This is no dought a reflection of the selfish
materialism of our age.

I hope this is not seen as an intrusion, and thankyou for your
time.

Jeremy.




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