Theos-Talk Archives (April 2001 Message tt00112)

Friday, April 20, 2001


Dear G-------

In framing talks, experience shows the chapters in the OCEAN OF
THEOSOPHY are helpful (see Chapters 14 (Cycles ), and 11
(Karma), and also Chapters 2 and 3 where the concept of the
progressive evolution of Material Forms around a core of pure
SPIRIT is developed. The 7 principles (or planes) bridge the gap
between SPIRIT on one hand and PRIMORDIAL MATTER on the others.
EVOLUTIONARY UNIT: A MONAD
In the S.D., H.P.B. develops the concept of the individualized
Monad -- each such being a "ray" from the original UNIVERSAL
MONAD or ATMA / BUDDHI The concept is that these "monads"
pervade all SPACE that is in manifestation (see S.D. I 289) at
it is the evolution in and around the MONAD (Spirit/Matter) of
other monads (which have lesser experience), but who desire to
become of the same spiritual stature and ability as IT, manifest
this, in their self-determined and self-devised efforts to
improve morally and ethically -- in other words to humbly follow
the LAWS OF NATURE and to spiritualize themselves.

To do this they have to become WISE. And this requires study of
the whole field of our universe, ourselves and our progress so
far -- then the doors of opportunity, as described in the VOICE
OF THE SILENCE are opened by us. We in fact, initiate ourselves.

SPIRITUALITY -- HOW ATTAINED ?

In other words the SPIRITUAL achievement of one series of
evolutionary incarnations brings the HUMAN MONAD to the portals
of the next state -- let us call it Adeptship. This is a state
when the Form has so purified itself that it is incapable of
doing evil or wrong, or harming anything.
The whole of humanity is beginning this process (in ROUND 4,
Globe "D," and we are now in the "5th RACE" at the beginning of
the ascending arc (S.D. I 200). Since we are emerging from the
state where KAMA (desire, emotion, passion) dominates, there is a
great deal of resistance as old habits and desires will have to
be modified. This changing and remodeling is described in a very
interesting article titled THE ELIXIR OF LIFE by G. Mitford. It
is reprinted in FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY, p. 1. (Republished by
THEOSOPHY COMPANY, Los Angeles .)

We are still, as a RACE (as defined by H.P.B. in S.D. I 200)
involved in KAMA, and with Manas (Mind) appearing on the scene
(5th Race) we are extricating ourselves out of the influence of
Kama (ignorance and foolishness) and learning the wisdom inherent
in EVOLUTION as a SPIRITUAL PROCESS for ALL BEINGS. It is a
universal process but most of all, it emphasizes the importance
of right choices for humanity to make in its units and all
together. Very often the tendency to independence and
self-righteousness of Kama rebels

Look at it this way ( In truth, the whole of the philosophy
becomes involved in trying to explain these two: Cycles and
Karma) -- also REINCARNATION is to be brought in, for the
explanation of the way in which the Lower Self (Kama-Manas)
evolves by voluntary choices (applied motives) into an
independent and fully obedient higher Self -- a Self which we
may call Budhi-Manas (the wise mind) that has chosen to be wholly
obedient to the Laws of Nature and to its HIGHER SELF, named ATMA
or the individualized "ray" of the Universal SELF This is at
all time interior to us, not outside. If you wish it can be
thought of as our inner God.

In other words there is a return, full circle, back to the SOURCE
of origin, PLUS all the experience earned. [ H.P.B. makes this
clear in "ISIS UNVEILED and THE VISISHTADWAITA " in H.P.B.
Articles, Vol. 3, p. 265; in BCW Vol. 7, p 50 ]
Let us put this in a sequence:

LAW -- UNIVERSAL and EXACT

1. we are each of us (from the atom to the Man, and from the
Earth to the uttermost limits of SPACE, under the patterns and
laws of NATURE (or the SPIRITUAL UNIVERSE).
These are called the Laws of ANALOGY and CORRESPONDENCE. They
pervade all SPACE and affect all beings/forms.

In the S.D., H.P.B. says that the first law in nature is
uniformity in diversity, in other words, the total harmony of all
discords. Nature is ultimately and totally sensitive to every
one of its components, small or large and on many planes beyond
as well as within the physical matter we know. (S.D. II 699)

SOURCE AND ORIGIN OF ALL

[NOTE: Our SINGLE SOURCE AND ORIGIN is the ABSOLUTE. It is
indescribable in our terms.

When this ABSOLUTE (the ETERNAL and indescribable BACKGROUND,
under the great law of Cycles and Karma) has to MANIFEST, all the
many forms and beings spring again into awareness, simultaneously
over the whole field of manifestation. Those beings which went
to "sleep" aeons ago awaken, and again the processes of Natural
evolution start up from where they halted. (On p. 231 of the
KEY, H.P.B. gives the 4 Golden Links of Theosophical doctrine:
This: UNIVERSAL UNITY AND CAUSATION is the 1st "link.").. There
is no physical BIG BANG as theorized by our speculative science,
only a reawakening of THAT WHICH WAS, to a new "Day" of study and
work. A fresh Manvantara.

2. we, as "rays" of Universal ATMA, are CENTERS OF
INTELLIGENCE and CONSCIOUSNESS, and are resident from time to
time in bodies, forms, [ the actions of the FORM entails KARMA ]
, and

FREE-WILL

3. our spiritual nature makes us free-willed.

What we call CONSCIOUSNESS is a reflection into the FORM (as far
as the form is able to accept this "reflection") of the one
Spirit acting as MIND. (see GITA NOTES, pp. 98-100) It is also
named BUDDHI, the vehicle of ATMA, and the eternal library of
all our choices inscribed on the imperishable folios of AKASA.
We thus have the compound Monad as ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS in
evolution.

4. we can (as free-willed FORMS) make choices. This gives
each of us (in humanity, where the Mind faculty is individualized
as "Lower Manas") our moral sense of right and wrong. We find
this is reinforced by the VOICE OF CONSCIENCE and the INTUITION
which derive from Buddhi - the accumulated Wisdom of past
experience.
KARMA
5. KARMA attaches itself to the forms according to the
choice made and the strength of the impression that our MOTIVES
make on each of them.

6. As there are many forms operating at various levels of
individual development (atoms molecules, cells, minerals, plants,
animals, humans and kingdoms beyond the HUMAN), it is the
aggregation of the "life-units" (MONADS) which invokes and
attracts KARMA.

CYCLES and TIME

7. As Karma moves in cycles, so finite TIME is invoked.

8. The periodicity of the cycles (TIME) is inherent in the
impression imposed by our choices on the components of the forms
we use. The individual Karma is then adjusted by Nature to the
Karma of many surrounding centers of Life.

9. In other words, the "skandhas," (little lives--monads)
for which we are responsible as an "older brother," and which are
attracted to us by affinity and earlier Karmic links, become the
carriers of our Karma.

CHOOSING -- FREE-WILL

10. the broad basic field of choices is 1. according to
LAW, and
2. In
disobedience to LAW.

11. broadly, the obedience to law means we harmonize
voluntarily, using our freedom of choice to act as a Spiritual
being would. This results in charity, generosity, harmony and a
brotherhood for all beings regardless of their evolutionary
station. To do this, to act virtuously, we have to be wise.

12. disobedience to Law means

1. we know what the Law is
2. We decide to break or distort or disobey it
and our basis is the isolation of selfishness.
3. we decide to act foolishly, viciously, or in
ignorance of the Law.

MOTIVE - GOOD / EVIL

13. Whatever we choose, KARMA attaches itself to the MOTIVE
(choice -- wisdom or ignorance) that underlies any action (acts
may be: 1. desires, 2. thoughts, and 3. deeds)

14. The KARMA of the FORM follows the choice made, and reacts
on the compound consciousness that inheres in the form. The
individual consciousness in every part of the living form is
affected. Karma works in a similar way for humanity, involving
those who are affected by any other individual's choices and
actions. Thus we have family, community, national, racial and
world Karma.
There is a valuable article titled APHORISMS ON KARMA by Mr. Wm.
Q. Judge available on-line through BLAVATSKY.NET It is
worthwhile referring to it. In regard to cycles Mr. Judge wrote
2 valuable articles: CYCLES and CYCLES AND CYCLIC LAW which will
also be fund at the same on-line source.
The value of these considerations is to assure one of the
cohesive nature of Theosophical philosophy as well as the
providing of a little of this will give the audience a sense of
the living value of Theosophy as it relates to their own
determination of their own future. Theosophy never proselytes.
It offers facts and reasoning to be investigated, independently
and deeply, by all.

>From all this, one realizes we are not trying to define either a
"beginning" or an "ending." The process is eternal.
The Teacher/pupil relationship is universal.
Hence, the value of getting the doctrines of Theosophy clear in
our minds so we can present them as simply as possible to others
who need or ask for them. One ought always to invite inquirers
to do their own research. Why should anyone rely on that which
another offers.
Proof, always, is interior to the student seeker.

Best wishes,

DTB