Theos-Talk Archives (September 2001 Message tt00302)

Thursday, September 27, 2001


Dear Peter:

Many thanks for the next part of our study (reproduced below)

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Stanza iii. Commentary.	S D I 62


1. THE LAST VIBRATION OF THE SEVENTH ETERNITY THRILLS THROUGH
INFINITUDE a). THE MOTHER SWELLS, EXPANDING FROM WITHIN WITHOUT
LIKE THE BUD OF THE LOTUS (b).

(a) the seemingly paradoxical use of the sentence "seventh
eternity," thus
dividing the indivisible, is sanctified in esoteric philosophy.
The latter
divides boundless duration into unconditionally eternal and
universal time
and a conditioned one (Khandakala). One is the abstraction or
noumenon of
infinite Time (Kala); the other its phenomenon appearing
periodically, as
the effect of MAHAT (the universal intelligence limited by
manvantaric
duration). With some schools, Mahat is "the first-born" of
Pradhana
(undifferentiated substance, or the periodical aspect of
Mulaprakriti, the
root of nature), which (Pradhana) is called maya, the illusion.
In this
respect, I believe, esoteric teaching differs from the Vedantin
doctrines of
both the Adwaita and the Visishtadwaita schools. For it says
that, while
Mulaprakriti, the noumenon, is self-existing and without any
origin -- is,
in short, parentless, Anupadaka (as one with Brahmam) --
prakriti, its
phenomenon, is periodical and no better than a phantasm of the
former, so
Mahat, with the occultists, the first-born of Gnana (or gnosis)
knowledge,
wisdom or the logos -- is a phantasm reflected from the absolute
Nirguna
(Parabrahm, the one reality, "devoid of attributes and
qualities"; see
Upanishads); while with some Vedantins Mahat is a manifestation
of prakriti,
or matter. (SD I 62)

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In TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE (ULT) , p. 93-4
H.P.Blavatsky comments on this in response to questions from her
friends:

"There is no Time at this stage. There is neither Space nor Time
when beginning is made; but it is all in Space and Time, once
that differentiation sets in.

At the time of the primordial radiation, or when the Second Logos
emanates, it is Father-Mother potentially, but when the Third or
manifested Logos appears, it becomes the Virgin-Mother....

from the appearance of the Third. It is here that the great
difference between the two lies...

The "last vibration" begins outside of Time and Space, and ends
with the Third Logos, when Time and Space begin, i.e., periodical
time.

The Second Logos partaking of both the essences of the first and
the last.

There is no differentiation with the First Logos;
differentiation only begins in latent World-Thought, with the
Second Logos, and receives its full expression, i.e., becomes the
"Word" made flesh--with the Third." [TRANS. pp. 93-4]


I think it is important to take note of what H P B states the
"Esoteric Philosophy" teaches. These teachings highlighted by
her, are different from the Vedantins and the Adwaitees :

"...esoteric teaching differs from the Vedantin doctrines of both
the Adwaita and the Visishtadwaita schools.

For it says that, while Mulaprakriti, [ Synonyms: Maha-Budhi,
Primordial Pure Matter, Root-Matter, ]

the noumenon, is self-existing and without any origin [ because
it is ONE WITH SPIRIT -- for an explanation see NOTES ON THE
BHAGAVAD GITA by W. Q. Judge, pp. 132-3:

"...This "inferior nature" is only so, relatively. It is the
phenomenal and transcient which disappears into the superior at
the end of a kalpa. It is that part of God, or of the Self, which
chose to assume the phenomenal and transcient position, but is,
in essence, as great as the superior nature. The inferiority is
only relative; as soon as objective material, and subjective
spiritual, worlds appear, the first-named has to be denominated
inferior to the other, because the spiritual being the permanent
base, it is in that sense superior; but as an absolute whole all
is equal." NOTES ON THE B. GITA - Judge p. 132-3 ]


-- is, in short, parentless, Anupadaka (as one with Brahmam) --
prakriti [ material forms], its
phenomenon, is periodical and no better than a phantasm of the
former, so
Mahat [Universal Mind], with the occultists, the first-born of
Gnana (or gnosis) knowledge,
WISDOM or the logos -- is a phantasm reflected from the absolute
Nirguna [ no qualities ]
(Parabrahm, the one reality, "devoid of attributes and
qualities"; see
Upanishads); while with some Vedantins, Mahat is a manifestation
of Prakriti [matter],



All this is very deep metaphysics dealing with the transition
from non-manifestation into Manifestation. But as there is no
vast cleavage between the two one has to recall that every
creation, every manifestation, is only a rebirth of an earlier
one -- a vast reincarnation. Hence every living essential
spirit/soul is found brought back to objective life from that
vast intermediate period of rest to resume its Karmic evolution.
This is in effect a reincarnation of the WHOLE of all the
previous "material evolution." Ensouling each being is the same
"Spirit" that had ensouled it previously. Thus KARMA, the chain
of continuity -- the GREAT NIDANA is always preserved.

The vast and all-inclusive Law (and laws) of KARMA (which is
Nidana) never ceases operation.

H.P.Blavatsky has spoken of this in her article ISIS UNVEILED AND
THE VISHISTADWAITA [Theosophist, January 1886; BLAVATSKY:
Collected Works (TPH) Vol. 7, p. 50; U L T,
H P B Articles, Vol. 3, p 265.]

"I maintain as an occultist, on the authority of the Secret
Doctrine, that though merged entirely into Parabrahm, man's
spirit while not individual per se, yet preserves its distinct
individuality in Paranirvana owing to the accumulation in it of
the aggregates, or skandhas that have survived after the death,
from the highest faculties of the Manas.

The most spiritual--i.e., the highest and divinest aspirations of
every personality follow Buddhi and the Seventh Principle into
Devachan (Swarga) after the death of each personality along the
line of rebirths, and become [art and parcel of the MONAD...but
the individuality...is preserved to the end of the great cycle
(Maha-Manwantara) when each EGO enters paranirvana, or is merged
into Parabrahm....

That such Parabrahmic and Paranirvanic "spirits" or units, have
and must preserve their divine (not human) individualities, is
shown in the fact that, however long the "night of Brahma" or
even the Universal pralaya ...

yet when it ends, the same individual Divine Monad resumes its
majestic path of evolution, though on a higher, hundredfold
perfected and more pure chain of earths than before and brings
with it all the essence of compound spiritualities from its
previous countless rebirths." -- H P B

best wishes,

Dallas

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