Theos-Talk Archives (January 2002 Message tt00024)

January 3, 2002

It has been requested that we look at the 7-fold constitution of
man and nature.

Here are some statements:

Best wishes,

Dallas

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



SEVEN-FOLD UNIVERSE---SEVEN-FOLD MAN


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



Septenary Universe



"...the teaching about the Septenary constitution of the sidereal
bodies and of the macrocosm--from which the septenary division of
the microcosm, or Man--has until now been among the most
esoteric. In olden times if used to be divulged only at the
Initiation and along with the most sacred figures of the
cycles...the key to their teaching is furnished by
Atma-Vidya...for outside of metaphysics no occult philosophy, no
esotericism is possible." SD I 168-9



"...the number seven, as well as the doctrine of the septenary
constitution of man, was pre-eminent in all the secret systems.
It plays as important a part in Western Kabala as in Eastern
Occultism." SD I 241



"The universe evolves from the unknown, into which no man or
mind, however high, can inquire, on seven planes or in seven ways
or methods in all worlds, and this seven-fold differentiation
causes all the worlds of the universe and the beings thereon to
have a septenary constitution...the little worlds and the great
are copies of the whole, and the minutest insect as well as the
most highly developed being are replicas in little or in great of
the vast inclusive original.


The divisions of the sevenfold universe may be laid down roughly
as:

The Absolute, [or Space--that which ever is and in which all
manifestation must take place...we can do no more than say It Is.
None of the great teachers of the School ascribe qualities to
the Absolute although all qualities exist in It.]; Spirit, Mind,
Matter, Will, Akasa or AEther, [ Akasa is used in place of AEther
because English...has no word to properly designate that tenuous
state of matter], and Life.

Our knowledge begins with differentiation, and all manifested
objects, beings, or powers are only differentiations of the Great
Unknown. The most that can be said is that the Absolute
periodically differentiates itself, and periodically withdraws
the differentiation into itself.

The first differentiation--speaking metaphorically as to time--is
Spirit, with which appears Matter and Mind. Akasa is produced
from Matter and Spirit. Will is the force of spirit in action
and Life is a resultant of the action of Akasa moved by spirit,
upon Matter.

But the Matter here spoken of is not that which is vulgarly known
as such. It is the real Matter which is always invisible, and
has sometimes been called Primordial Matter...Mulaprakriti ...we
see or perceive only the phenomena but not the essential nature,
body or being of matter.

Mind is the intelligent part of the Cosmos, and in the collection
of seven differentiations above roughly sketched.

This plan was brought over from a prior period of manifestation
which added to its ever increasing perfectness, and no limit can
be set to its evolutionary possibilities in perfectness. Because
there was never any beginning to the periodical manifestations of
the Absolute, there will never be any end, but forever the going
forth and withdrawing into the Unknown will go on." Ocean, pp.
14-15





"Enquirer. But who is it that creates each time the Universe?

Theosophist. No one creates it. Science would call
the process evolution...we, Occultists and Theosophists, see in
it the only universal and eternal reality casting a periodical
reflection of itself on the infinite Spatial depths. This
reflection which you regard as the objective material universe,
we consider as a temporary illusion and nothing else. That alone
which is eternal is real...the universe passes out of its
homogeneous subjectivity on to the first pane of manifestation,
of which planes there are seven, we are taught. With each plane
it becomes more dense and material until it reaches this, our
plane...our Solar system (like every other such system in the
millions of others in Cosmos) and even our Earth, has its own
programme of manifestations differing from the respective
programmes of all others." Key to
Theosophy pp. 84-5



"Enquirer. I understand you describe our earth as
forming a part of a chain or earths?

Theosophist. We do. But the other six "earths" or
"globes," are not on the same plane of objectivity as our earth
is; therefore we cannot see them...It is only that their
material density, weight, or fabric are entirely different from
those of our earth and the other known planets; but they are (to
us) on an entirely different layer of space, so to speak; a
layer not to be perceived or felt by our physical senses...by
"layer" is that plane of infinite space which by its nature
cannot fall under our ordinary waking perceptions, whether mental
or physical; but which exists in nature outside of our normal
mentality or consciousness, outside of our three dimensional
space, and outside of our division of time. Each of the seven
fundamental planes (or layers) in space...has its own objectivity
and subjectivity, its own space and time, its own consciousness
and set of senses. [ Like a different set of sense used in our
"dream-life."]...

Our philosophy teaches us that, as there are seven fundamental
forces in nature, and seven planes of being, so there are seven
states of consciousness in which man can live, think, remember
and have his being...in waking and dreaming [we have good proof
of the fact]." Key to Theosophy, pp. 88-90


==============================================
Table from Secret Doctrine Vol. II, p. 596


Correspondence of the 7 Cosmic and 7 Human
"principles."

================================================================
Human aspects or
Cosmic aspects or
Principles
Principles
================================================================

Triple aspect of the Deity

1. Universal Spirit (Atma) The
Unmanifested Logos
2. Spiritual Soul (Buddhi)
Universal (latent) Ideation

(see F-note p. 597)
3. Human Soul, Mind (Manas) Universal
(or Cosmic) active

Intelligence
________________________________________________________________

Spirit of the Earth

4. Animal Soul (Kama-Rupa) Cosmic Chaotic energy
5. Astral Body (Linga-Sarira) Astral Ideation,
reflecting

terrestrial things.
6. Life Essence (Prana) Life Essence
or Energy
7. Body (Sthula Sarira) The Earth.

[ from: SD II 596]



Sevenfold Man


"We find...two distinct beings in man; the spiritual and the
physical, the man who thinks, and the man who records as much of
these thoughts as he is able to assimilate.

Therefore we divide him into two distinct natures: the upper or
the spiritual being, composed of three "principles" or aspects;
and the lower or the physical quaternary, composed of four--in
all seven." Key, p. 90

----------------------------------------------------------------

Table From: (Please go to) Secret Doctrine I
p. 157

Seven-fold Man and His Vehicles in States of
Consciousness

================================================================
Classification in Vedantic
Classification in
"Esoteric Buddhism" Classification
Taraka Raja Yoga
================================================================
References:
CLASSIFICATION OF PRINCIPLES - HPB Theosophist,
April 1887
RECLASSIFICATION OF PRINCIPLES
Theosophist, August 1887
(HPB Articles Vol.
II p 233-248)
ISIS U. & THE THEOSOPHIST ON REINCARNATION Th'st.
Aug. 1882
(HPB Articles Vol.
I p 491 see table on p. 494)
THEOSOPHICAL THEORIES OF THE MICROCOSM --W. Q.
Judge
Theosophist, August 1887 (WQJ Art.
Vol. II p. 346)
Tables in Secret Doctrine: Vol II pp 593, 596,
632-3.


"...Atma-Bodha or "Knowledge of Soul,"[a treatise by
Shankaracharya]...speaks distinctly of seven principles in man
(see verse 14). They are called therein the five sheaths
(Panchakosha) in which is enclosed the divine monad--the Atman
and Buddhi, the seventh and sixth principles, or the individual
soul when made distinct...from the supreme soul--Parabrahman.
The first sheath, called Ananda-maya--the sheath of "supreme
bliss"--is the Manas of fifth principle of the Occultists, when
united with Buddhi; the second sheath is Vijnana-maya Kosha, the
case or envelope of "self-delusion," the Manas when self-deluded
into the belief of the personal "I" or Ego, with its vehicle.
The third is Mano-maya sheath, composed of illusionary "mind"
associated with the organs of action and will, is the Kama Rupa
and the Linga Sharira combined, producing an illusive "I" or
Mayavi Rupa. The fourth sheath is called Prana-maya, illusionary
"life," our second life principle or Jiva, wherein resides life,
the "breathing" sheath. The fifth Kosha is called Anna-maya, or
the sheath supported by food--our gross material body. All these
sheaths produce other smaller sheaths, or six attributes or
qualities each, the seventh being always the root-sheath; and the
Atman or spirit passing through all these subtle ethereal bodies
like a thread, is called the "thread-soul" or Sutratman." – HPB
Five Years of Theosophy p. 126



"As the prime declaration of theosophy is that all these
so-called bodies and appearances are for the purpose of enabling
the ONE--the Atma--to fully comprehend nature and "bring about
the aim of the soul," why not denominate all that it uses for
that purpose vehicles?...Or if greater clearness is desired, let
us say that there is one principle which acts through six
vehicles. The scheme will then stand thus:

ATMA
(spirit), one principle, indivisible

Its vehicles are

Buddhi . .
. . Spiritual Soul
Manas . .
. . Human Soul
Kama Rupa . . .
Animal Soul
Linga Sarira . . .
Astral Body
Prana or Jiva . .
. Vitality
Rupa . .
. . The Body "

from: WQJ Articles I 299




TABLE FROM: (Please go to) Key to Theosophy, pp
91-92

================================================================
Sanskrit Exoteric
Explanatory
Terms Meaning
================================================================

LOWER QUATERNARY (see text )


---------------------------------------------------------------

THE UPPER IMPERISHABLE TRIAD (see text)


from: Key to Theosophy p. 91-92


SD I pp. 242-5 gives the following analysis of seven-fold
man:
1. THE UPPER TRIAD

1. Atma -
pure Spirit - Neschamah
2. Buddhi -
Spiritual Soul - Ruach
3. Manas -
Mind, Plastic Mediator Nephesch

2. THE LOWER QUATERNARY

4. Kama -
Passion & Animal Desire
5. Prana -
Life - Mikael, Sun Principle
6. Linga Sarira -
Astral Body - Image of Man
7. Sthula Sarira
Physical Body -

[Explanatory footnote: "Nephesh is the breath of (animal)
life...Without Manas, "the reasoning Soul," or mind, Atma-Buddhi
are irrational on this plane and cannot act. It is Buddhi which
is the plastic mediator, not Manas, "the intelligent medium
between the upper Triad and the lower Quaternary."...]
SD I 241-2




"...Soul (or Ego)...is Atma-Buddhi-Manas...(collectively as the
upper Triad) lives on three planes, besides its fourth, the
terrestrial sphere; and it exists eternally on the highest of
the three...

Manas is immortal, because after every new incarnation it adds to
Atma-Buddhi something of itself, and thus assimilating itself to
the Monad, shares its immortality...

Buddhi becomes conscious by the accretions it gets from Manas
after every new incarnation...Buddhi is the mould of Atma,
because Atma is no body, or shape, or anything, and because
Buddhi is its vehicle only
figuratively...

Atma neither progresses, forgets, nor remembers. It does not
belong to this plane; it is but the ray of light eternal which
shines upon and through the darkness of matter--when the latter
is willing...

The astral through Kama (desire) is ever drawing Manas down into
the sphere of material passions and desires. But
if the better man or Manas tries to escape the fatal attraction
and turns its aspirations to Atma--Spirit--then Buddhi (Ruach)
conquers, and carries Manas with it to the realm of eternal
spirit...

The body follows the whims, good or bad, of Manas; Manas tries
to follow the light of Buddhi, but often fails.

The Monad becomes a personal ego when it incarnates; and
something remains of that personality through Manas,
when the latter is perfect enough to assimilate Buddhi.
[Extracts from SD I 243-245 ]



"[There is a dual set of "principles": the spiritual, or those
which belong to the imperishable Ego; and the material, or those
principles which make up the ever-changing bodies or the series
of personalities of that Ego.

LET US FIX PERMANENT NAMES TO THOSE, and say that:--

1. Atma, the "Higher Self," is neither your Spirit nor
mine, but like sunlight shines on all. It is the universally
diffused "divine principle," and is inseparable from its one and
absolute Meta-Spirit, as the sunbeam is inseparable from
sunlight.

2. Buddhi (the spiritual soul) is only its vehicle.
Neither each separately, nor the two collectively, are of any
more use to the body of man, than sunlight and its beams are for
a mass of granite buried in the earth, unless the divine Duad is
assimilated by, and reflected in, some consciousness. Neither
Atma nor Buddhi are ever reached by Karma, because the former is
the highest aspect of Karma, its universal working agent of
ITSELF in one aspect, and the other is unconscious on this plane.
This consciousness or mind is

3. Manas,(*) the derivation or product in a
reflected form of Ahamkara, "the conception of "I," or Ego-ship,
and Taijasi (the radiant). This is the real Individuality or the
divine man. It is this Ego which--having originally incarnated
in the senseless human form animated by, but unconscious (since
it had no consciousness) of, the presence in itself of the dual
monad--made of that human-like form a real man. It is that Ego,
that "Causal Body," which overshadows every personality Karma
forces it to incarnate into; and this Ego which is held
responsible for all the sins committed through, and in, every new
body or personality--the evanescent masks which hide the true
Individual through the long series of rebirths.


(*) Mahat or the "Universal Mind" is the source of
Manas. The latter is Mahat, i.e., mind, in man. Manas is also
called Kshetrajna, "embodied spirit," because it is...the
Manasa-putra, or "Sons of the Universal Mind," who created, or
rather produced, the thinking man, "manu" by incarnating in the
third Race mankind [Lemurian] in our Round. It is Manasa,
therefore, which is the real incarnating and permanent Spiritual
Ego, the Individuality, and our various and numberless
personalities only its external masks."
Key to Theosophy, pp. 135-6





"To avoid henceforth...misapprehensions, I propose to translate
literally from the Occult Eastern terms their equivalents in
English, and offer these for future use.


The HIGHER SELF is Atma, the inseparable ray of the Universal and
ONE
SELF. It is the God above, more than

within, us. Happy is the man who succeeds
in saturating his inner Ego with it!

The SPIRITUAL divine Ego is the Spiritual soul or Buddhi, in
close
union with Manas, the mind-principle,

without which it is no Ego at all, but only
the
Atmic Vehicle.

The Inner, or Higher "Ego" is Manas, the "Fifth" Principle,...

independently of Buddhi. The Mind-Principle
is only the Spiritual Ego when merged into
one
with Buddhi,--no materialist being supposed
to
have in him such an Ego, however
great
his intellectual capacities. It is
the
permanent Individuality or the

"Reincarnating Ego."

The Lower or Personal "Ego" is the physical man in conjunction
with
his lower Self, i.e., animal instincts,

passions, desires, etc. It is called the

"false personality," and consists of the
lower
Manas combined with Kama-rupa, and

operating through the Physical body and its

phantom or "double."

The
remaining "Principle"

“Prana," or "Life, is
strictly speaking,
the
radiating force or energy of Atma-- as
the
Universal Life and the One Self,--Its
lower
or rather (in its effects) more

physical, because manifesting, aspect.


Prana, Life permeates the whole being of the

objective Universe; and is called a "principle:
only
because it is an indispensable

factor and the deus ex machina of the living

man." Key to Theosophy pp. 175-6





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