Theos-Talk Archives (August 2001 Message tt00156)

Dear Wes

Why do you think that it is incorrect (that is if you do) from the symbology
point of view that the gilt triangle is pointing earthwards? The upper
(grey) cover of the original SD does have black lines and other symbology,
including three entwined strands running along top and bottom. These
symbols (not the emblem and TS symbol) are repeated on the lower cover in
blind (i.e., there is no black). It gives the ideas (from lower cover to
upper cover) of differentiation, of coming into manifestation, light &
darkness, and so on.
See SD II, page 591, for example, on interlaced triangles which form the
emblem of our Society:
For, even in the exoteric rendering, the lower triangle [[diagram]] with the
apex downward, is the symbol of Vishnu, the god of the moist principle and
water ("Nara-yana," or the moving Principle in Nara, water;**) while the
triangle, with its apex upward, [[diagram]] is Siva, the Principle of Fire,
symbolized by the triple flame in his hand.
And the footnote:
** See the Mahabharata, e.g., III., 189, 3, where Vishnu says, "I called the
name of water nara in ancient times, and am hence called Narayana, for that
was always the abode I moved in" (Ayana). It is into the water (or chaos,
the "moist principle" of the Greeks and Hermes), that the first seed of the
Universe is thrown. "The 'Spirit of God' moves on the dark waters of Space";
hence Thales makes of it the primordial element and prior to Fire, which was
yet latent in that Spirit.
Tony


-----Original Message-----
From: Wes Amerman [mailto:amerman@theosophy.net]
Sent: 15 August 2001 12:16 am
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World RE: Black and White


Dear Frank,

I too was surprised years ago when I first noticed the "seal of the TS"
apparently imprinted "reversed" on a book cover. However, the explanation
is really quite simple -- the seal was originally intended to be printed
with dark ink on white paper, as in a magazine, etc. But, when it came time
to print it with lighter ink on a dark surface, such as a book cover, it
comes out as you see -- "reversed." The upper-pointing triangle, when left
"open," that is, without ink, indicates "white," while the lower-pointing
triangle is "inked," and therefore "dark."

My Theosophy Company-printed copies of the Secret Doctrine, Index and
Theosophical Glossary also have this "problem," but so have "Five Years of
Theosophy," (1894 and 1910) and Reminiscences of H.P. Blavatsky and 'the
Secret Doctrine," by Countess Wachtmeister (1893), both published by the
Theosophical Publishing Society. I'm sure other publishers have encountered
this, and may have found a solution -- TPH (Theosophical Publishing House)
uses at least some white/light colored covers and jackets -- but others may
have maintained the original printing convention.

If anyone else has another view on this, I would be glad to hear it.

Best Regards,
Wes


Frank wrote:
I have the book "Answers to Questions on The Ocean of Theosophy. Crosbie",
2nd ed. 1937, before me.
There are interesting statements to find of which I will later on (as time
permits) quote some.
My copy is from the ULT library in NYC.

Amazing is that on the cover one finds the well known seal of the TS - with
the two triangles REVERSED. In the original seal the white triangle has the
single top above and the two other triangles below and the black triangle
shows down with the single top. This seal on the book of Robert Crosbie has
the white triangle downwards and the black one upwards.
What does that mean?
Is that just a printing error or is that a hidden sign and for what?
Which seal is on the first edition of 1933?
Frank








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