Theos-Talk Archives (May 2002 Message tt00179)

May 20 2002


Dear Friend


Have you ever thought that the universe, (or BEING) is composed of
basically immortal building blocks (which we call "monads"). Then, the
possibility of anything being "lost" or "missing," or even "misplaced"
in it is almost impossible to conceive of ?

[Is this not one of the 'esoteric connections ?']

Here's another as I write: if this is a Universe that obviously runs
by very carefully adjusted laws, then where is there room for
lawlessness ? If "law" is esoteric to us (secret but potent) then our
discovery it makes it exoteric. It loses some of its "mystery"
insofar as we learn about it and its operations. But how do we do
that? We end to use the question: WHY? and then HOW ? And seek
until we find the basis for any individuality or that which masks it
the "persona" the personality, or "mask."

Is it not the mask that is the exoteric, and the THING IN ITSELF,
which is the forever esoteric? Its not some mumbo-jumbo, but a
knowledge of LAW and LAWS which makes all the difference. It is the
difference between indifference (and consequent "folly") and sage-like
wisdom and knowledge of there REAL. But, where do we find the REAL ?
Now does that not suggest that there has to be an aspect of the REAL
in us which would be able to recognize another "aspect of the REAL"
elsewhere in some other "form ?"

The Universe is said to be embodied Spirit. The "matter" we live in,
is said by the ancient, the perennial and invariable WISDOM, to be
condensed out of that in 6 distinct "layers," or "spheres." It
continues and says: each displays a specialty of the SPIRIT as it
differentiates. Yet, all are interconnected and inter-related all the
time, as a living vibrating whole. As an example we can look on our
physical matter as a condensation of the ASTRAL MATTER, everything is
fundamentally force-fields. But that in itself is no finality, for,
what sets up the parameters of any "force-field ?" That which was the
inscrutable "space" of the astronomers of 50 years ago, has become the
"dark matter "invisible, but transparent to light and other rays of
energy," that forms the greater part of the "matter" of the UNIVERSE
as a whole, says the astro-physicist of today.

Then in steps the philosopher-theosophist. He thinks of analogies and
says:


These form pairs of opposites:


1 SPIRIT-unlimited, changeless vs. MATERIAL FORMS - limited
but in constant motion.


2 WISDOM - Memory of all experiences over an enormous "past"
vs. FOLLY -- the ebullience and frivolous, senseless urges of
passion, desire, impulse, and an exaggerated desire for isolation,
power and selfishness.


3. MIND - Thought, choice, perception of time as past, present
and future, memory, capacity to reason from premises to conclusions
using logic vs. LIFE-ENERGY, vitality that which gives all forms
their being as well as their limits -- in effect it is individual
Karma in action.

4 A balance point which is the present cycle for human beings is
represented by a kind of see-saw. It is marked by the deepest
involution of Spirit, and the highest evolution of material progress.
It is the point in and at which the Sage and the Fool confront each
other. The question of independence and freedom is to be resolved
here and we are the products of this process. This represents the
condition of the Lower Manas or the Mind faculty in touch with and
enmeshed in Kama -- the faculty of fancy, hopes, desires, passions,
all epitomized by selfishness, but also, having no perception of true
immortality they fail to realize they come to a conclusion when the
life of this bodily form DIES.

We as MINDS have wide capacities, say, of visualizing the infinitudes
of the spiritual states (for SPIRIT is in one sense the end all and be
all of everything -- it "survives" when all else is dissolved at the
time of universal sleep, rest and Pralaya) -- In "IT" are all the
SPIRITUAL Monads, and the ineffaceable memory of their experiences
Buddhi - Universal wisdom) -- which is only acquired though
experience, free-choice, and limited embodiment in many degrees and
levels of "forms."]

So this 4th plane is three-fold. You will find it described in the
VOICE OF THE SILENCE on p. 54 under # 4: VIRAGA, which is thee-fold
:--

1 - indifference to pleasure as to pain,

2 - illusion conquered,

3 - Truth alone perceived.


It says (as I understand it) :--

1. that the "Spiritual Person" is indifferent to the impact of
circumstances, and accepts them as Karma from the past and avoids, in
any reaction, from creating adverse Karma for the future.

2. The illusion of the importance of the present form is destroyed by
understanding what its true nature and function are. (It is embodied
Karma from the past which we have to live in and deal with on an
impersonal but compassionate basis.)

3. Truth is a direct and clear perception of the way nature (the
Universe is constituted) -- on 7 planes and in 7 manners (the riddle
of the 49 Fires). This has to be perceived, by actively using the
tool of the Mind and purifying it (and increasing the control we can
exercise over it) by attentive and sensitive meditation -- so that
the tendrils of Kama-desire remaining attached to it, drop away.
Kama, or the principle of action ("rajas" among the 3 "gunas" that
constitute Krishna's inferior Nature -- see BHAGAVAD GITA, Chapters
14, 16, 17). It is useful to progress only when firmly controlled.
(Note: since for long ages it has been "in control," (making us the
Kama-Manasic beings we now are) it resents this attempt to
metamorphose into a fully Manasic being, and fights the constraints
that we, as MIND-BEINGS, now place upon it.)

We think that "small" is unimportant, and "large" is consequent.

But LARGE is made up of innumerable uncountable smalls. Then what
does size signify? Merely the aggregation about some one CENTRAL
MONAD of those other monads (of lesser experience), who, under karma
(theirs and ours) accumulate around IT, as the "little lives" and as
such they offer it service, and expect to receive guidance and
education as from a truly Spiritual being. It is the duty of the
"advanced Monad" (as we are, ourselves interiorly, as the HIGHER
SELF) to SUPPORT and direct them. I believe the two functions are
interchangeable, as nothing would "AGGREGATE" unless there was a cause
and a law to permit that. This interaction is Karma for the
Individual (which is the IMMORTAL), as well as for the "personal"
(the temporary aspect that lives for one life only).

Does this upset our notions of independence and of freedom? It seems
to. And yet Theosophy sates that the "human stage of evolution"
represents the struggle of the lawless and fleeting emotions and
desires against their own background (universal) of law, compassion,
assistance, service, and brotherhood. It seems to me that this means
we have the selfish unbrotherliness of temporarily constructed units.
Then, that these fight against orderliness and purpose, just because
they are still unable to perceive that the whole of their life, as of
everything else, is ORDERLINESS IN PROGRESS, and that cooperation and
mutual service is the great NORM.

I think this is almost enough of my trend of thought for the moment.


All good wishes,


Dallas